Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: EC:3.4.24.11 (CD10)
 9,792 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Inflammation of the periodontium leads to connective tissue degradation and eventual tooth loss. The regulation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) has been studied to determine their role in these processes and also during tissue remodelling. Analysis of gingival crevicular fluid has revealed the presence of collagenase and gelatinase that, in the acute stages of periodontal disease, are derived predominantly from polymorphonuclear leukocytes. These MMPs appear to be intimately associated with tissue destruction since the levels of the active forms of these enzymes obtained from either crevicular fluid or mouthrinse samples correlate with tissue destruction and, therefore, provide a sensitive means of demonstrating disease activity. Transforming growth factor-beta, an important regulator of connective tissue remodelling, has been implicated in the rapid remodelling of periodontal tissues. TGF-beta promotes tissue matrix formation by stimulating both the synthesis of matrix proteins (collagen, fibronectin and SPARC) and proteinase inhibitors (TIMP, PAI-1) and by decreasing the synthesis of MMPs, but not the 72 kDa-gelatinase. Nuclear run-on analyses have shown that TGF-beta reduces collagenase and stromelysin synthesis by suppressing gene transcription without altering mRNA stabilities. In contrast, the transcription of the gelatinase and TIMP genes was increased by TGF-beta, which also increased gelatinase mRNA stability. Remodelling of alveolar bone involves interaction between osteoblasts and osteoclasts. Osteoblasts, under the influence of osteotropic hormones (vit D3, PTH and retinoic acid), produce MMPs which appear to function in the removal of soft tissue that precludes access of osteoclasts to the mineralized tissue surface. Rat osteoblastic cells produce MMPs with activity on native collagen, native collagen 3/4-fragments and gelatin and, in addition, two forms of TIMP activity. The 3/4-collagen endopeptidase, purified to apparent homogeneity, also has significant collagenase and gelatinase activities and an amino terminal sequence almost identical to human 72 kDa-gelatinase. The production of this enzyme was stimulated by TGF-beta, which suppresses bone resorption, and by osteotropic hormones which stimulate bone resorption, supporting a bifunctional role for the gelatinase in connective tissue remodelling. Although there is strong evidence for the involvement of MMPs in the resorption of bone and in the inflammation-mediated destruction of periodontal tissues, the role of MMPs in the remodelling of mature soft connective tissues remains equivocal.
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PMID:Matrix metalloproteinases in periodontal tissue remodelling. 148 60

As reproducible models for examining human early B-cell progenitors (BCPs) are poorly developed, the cells and molecules regulating their growth and differentiation are still incompletely characterized. We used a recently published short term culture system, using immunomagnetic beads and negative selection, in order to isolate an early BCPs enriched population from human fetal tissues that support further studies on B cell proliferation or differentiation events. This purified population was incubated with or without human recombinant Interleukin-4 (rIL4), and its capability to proliferate and differentiate was followed. We found that rIL4 did not induce either proliferation or differentiation of purified human BCPs. Furthermore in the presence of stromal cells (CD13+) it was able to enhance cy mu + cells and to induce the expression of surface Ig (sIg), surface CD22 on in vitro TdT + CD19 + CD10 + sIg-fetal liver cells. Human recombinant interleukin-7 (rIL-7) promoted the proliferation and the clonal growth of Tdt + CD19 + CD10 + fetal BCPs, confirming its critical role at early stages of human B lymphopoiesis. Furthermore rIL7 also induced growth of CFU-GM when unseparated fetal tissues or myeloid/monocytic contaminated BCPs were used as a target populations, probably by indirect mechanism. Transforming growth factor -beta (TGF-beta 1) partially inhibited the stromal cell-dependent rIL4 induced differentiation and rIL7 clonal growth and proliferation of fetal BCPs. Our study contributes to elucidate the growth factor requirements that characterize normal human B-cell ontogeny, suggesting another mechanism for the linkage between lymphopoiesis and myeloid/macrophagic micro-environment. The in vivo implications of this study are discussed.
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PMID:[Effect of cytokines on the growth of human B-cell precursors, purified and in the presence of stromal (CD13+) components]. 948 96

Hematopoiesis is maintained by "fine-tuned" regulation among cytokines, neuropeptides, neurotransmitters, and neurotrophic factors. Neurotransmitters, derived from PPT-I exert immune and hematopoietic regulation. PPT-I is also expressed locally in bone marrow (BM) stromal cells. PPT-I peptides induce the production of cytokines in BM cells, resulting in regulation of both committed progenitors (CFU-GM) and primitive hematopoietic progenitors (CAFC). Both types of progenitors are regulated differently by the two major PPT-I peptides, SP and NK-A. Endopeptidases, present in BM cells, can digest SP to produce SP(1-4) and SP(4-11). In this study, we investigated the hematopoietic effects of these fragments on CFU-GM and CAFC. Similar to the two major intact PPT-I peptides (SP and NK-A), we observed different hematopoietic effects by SP(1-4) and SP(4-11). Whereas SP(1-4) exerted inhibitory effects on CFU-GM and CAFC, SP(4-11) mediated stimulatory effects. Similar to NK-A, the inhibitory effects of SP(1-4) can be partly explained by the induction of suppressive cytokines (TGF-beta, TNF-alpha, and INF-gamma). Use of antagonists and screening of a dodecapeptide expression library determined that the effects of SP(1-4) were mediated by NK-1. These results show that PPT-I peptides and their endopeptidase-derived fragments may add to the fine-tuned regulation on hematopoiesis. Furthermore, PPT-I may be exerting autoregulation to protect hematopoietic stem cells. These studies have relevance to stem cell protection and BM transplant.
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PMID:Effects of preprotachykinin-I peptides on hematopoietic homeostasis. A role for bone marrow endopeptidases. 1126 69

Helminth parasites have large genomes (approximately 10(8) bp) which are likely to encode a spectrum of products able to block or divert the host immune response. We have employed three parallel approaches to identify the first generation of 'immune evasion genes' from parasites such as the filarial nematode Brugia malayi. The first strategy is a conventional route to characterise prominent surface or secreted antigens. In this way we have identified a 15-kDa protein, which is located on the surface of both L3 and adult B. malayi, and secreted by these parasites in vitro, as a member of the cystatin (cysteine protease inhibitor) family. This product, Bm-CPI-2, blocks conventional cysteine proteases such as papain, but also the aspariginyl endopeptidase involved in the Class II antigen processing pathway in human B cells. In parallel, we identified the major T cell-stimulating antigen from the microfilarial stage as a serpin (serine protease inhibitor), Bm-SPN-2. Microfilariae secrete this product which blocks two key proteases of the neutrophil, a key mediator of inflammation and innate immunity. The second route involves a priori hypotheses that helminth parasites encode homologues of mammalian cytokines such as TGF-beta which are members of broad, ancient metazoan gene families. We have identified two TGF-beta homologues in B. malayi, and shown that one form (Bm-TGH-2) is both secreted by adult parasites in vitro and able to bind to host TGF-beta receptors. Likewise, B. malayi expresses homologues of mammalian MIF, which are remarkably similar in both structure and function to the host protein, even though amino acid identity is only 28%. Finally, we deployed a third method of selecting critical genes, using an expression-based criterion to select abundant mRNAs taken from key points in parasite life histories. By this means, we have shown that the major transcript present in mosquito-borne infective larvae, Bm-ALT, is a credible vaccine candidate for use against lymphatic filariasis, while a second abundantly-expressed gene, Bm-VAL-1, is similar to a likely vaccine antigen being developed against hookworm parasites.
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PMID:Immune evasion genes from filarial nematodes. 1140 38

In chronic glomerulonephritis (GN) the development of the tissue damage and progression to fibrosis is related to the individual immune response which brings about excessive inflammation, failure to activate regression and glomerular repair and excessive fibrogenic activity. Therefore, the present standard treatment of GN has two aims, to fight the acute inflammation and to inhibit the progressive renal fibrosis. New avenues in the anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive treatment of the active phase of glomerular diseases include the use of drugs proven to be of value in organ transplantation (mycophenolate mofetil, rapamycin or anti-immune adhesion and anti-co-stimulatory molecules). Interest has recently focused on anti-inflammatory cytokines (monoclonal antibodies, peptidic antagonists or anti-sense oligonucleotides against TNF-alpha, anti-PDGF-beta, anti-TGF-beta and cytokine receptor antagonists) and anti-inflammatory natural cytokines (such as IL4, IL10, IL13 or low doses of TGFbeta). Other drugs may act by depleting B cells (such as anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody) or on several immune pathways, such as thalidomide or anti-cyclooxygenase 2. Several anti-sclerogenic drugs are already used for treatment of the chronic phase of glomerular diseases, such as antagonists of angiotensin II, statins and antioxidants. Other drugs are still experimental, including endothelin receptor antagonists and neutral endopeptidase or vasopeptidase inhibitors and other drugs operating on extracellular matrix accumulation/degradation mechanisms, e.g., pirfenidone. There are extremely interesting developments concerning activators of endogenous anti-inflammatory mechanisms, such as those regulated by peroxisome proliferator activated receptors. There is a need for successful treatment of chronic GN in childhood. This short review of the most promising new drugs shows there is reason to believe that the next decade will provide exciting new tools for the treatment of these diseases in children.
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PMID:New perspectives in treatment of glomerulonephritis. 1467 33