Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: EC:3.4.24.3 (collagenase)
 18,340 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Owing to the wide variety of symptoms, the long clinical course, the inadequate knowledge of the points at which therapeutic action is appropriate and the difficulty of obtaining objective measurements of the treatment results, therapy for systemic sclerosis has to be planned individually. Besides basic recommendations (avoidance of noxious substances, sensible diet, keeping warm, active exercises), physiotherapy and psychological guidance, the therapy is directed at three pathogenetic complexes. Among the vasoactive substances the prostacyclins, calcium channel blockers and angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors (in the case of complicated renal involvement) are recommended. They inhibit the thrombocyte hyperaggregation and lead to vasodilatation. The anti-inflammatory substances prednisolone and azathioprine also exert immunosuppressant (and cytotoxic) effect. Their use is indicated in inflammatory, immunologically active forms of systemic sclerosis. Antifibrotic agents inhibit cross-link formation, prolylhydroxylase, extrusion of collagen from fibroblasts and, thus, collagen synthesis. In addition, they favour the degradation of collagen via the activation of collagenase. Good results have been reported with penicillamine and penicillin G. Pentoxyphyllin leads to vasodilatation and also inhibits collagen metabolism. Promising agents and procedures for future use include cyclosporin A, CD4 antibodies, photopheresis, interferon gamma and factor XIII. A critical attitude to therapy and a great deal of patience are necessary to avoid harming the patients, especially as it is often some months before any effects of the treatment are seen.
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PMID:[Current status and trends in treatment of scleroderma]. 138 Apr 94

Human mononuclear phagocytes express an array of serine and metal dependent proteinases that are under complex developmental control and are also highly regulated by physiologic and pharmacologic stimuli. Monocytes contain the intracellular serine proteinases, elastase and cathepsin G, but have little metalloproteinase secretory capacity. Macrophages, on the other hand, produce predominantly metalloproteinases. Phorbol induced differentiation of promonocyte-like U937 cells into more mature mononuclear phagocytes results in transcriptional suppression of cathepsin G and temporally delayed onset of collagenase transcription. Mature macrophages upregulate metalloproteinase synthesis in response to lipopolysaccharide and phorbol myristic acetate; expression is downregulated with interferon gamma and dexamethasone. Thus, during the development of the mononuclear phagocyte, stores of serine proteinases are replaced by regulated secretion of metalloproteinases. These alterations may reflect changing roles of these cells in extracellular matrix degradation.
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PMID:Proteinases secreted by human mononuclear phagocytes. 190 75

The effects of recombinant interferon gamma (rIFN gamma) on the in vitro growth of adherent synovial fibroblast-like cells from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and also on the release of prostaglandin E2 and collagenase from these cells stimulated with recombinant interleukin-1 beta (rIL-1 beta) were investigated. The growth of adherent synovial cells from six of nine samples, determined by [3H]thymidine incorporation, was inhibited by rIFN gamma in a manner dependent on dose. The release of prostaglandin E2 and collagenase from adherent synovial cells stimulated with rIL-1 beta was also suppressed by rIFN gamma in all samples tested, though the basal release of these inflammatory mediators was little influenced. No apparent correlation between inhibition of proliferation by rIFN gamma and either inhibition by rIFN gamma of rIL-1 beta stimulated prostaglandin E2 release or the endogenous synthesis of prostaglandins was found.
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PMID:Effects of interferon gamma on cultured synovial cells from patients with rheumatoid arthritis: inhibition of cell growth, prostaglandin E2, and collagenase release. 216 88

Macrophages play a crucial role in intestinal mucosal defence, forming dense subepithelial aggregates, particularly in the colon. One of their important bactericidal mechanisms is production of oxygen radicals but this may damage the intestinal epithelium, perhaps as an early step in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The potential for release of oxygen radicals from mucosal macrophages in IBD was measured and whether a difference exists between newly arrived (CD14+L1+) monocyte-like cells and resident macrophages (CD14(-)L1-), without or with additional priming in vitro, was investigated. Lamina propria mononuclear cells from six patients with IBD and five with a normal intestine were isolated with an ethylenediaminetetra acetic acid/collagenase/dispase technique and cultured for three days. The cells were tested with or without interferon gamma (200 U/ml) priming in the presence or absence of lipopolysaccharide (1 microgram/ml) for the last 48 hours in cultures. Samples from inflamed IBD mucosa depleted of CD14+ cells by immunomagnetic beads were compared with their undepleted counterparts and with samples from virtually normal mucosa from the same patients. The production of oxygen radicals was measured as the amount of reduced cytochrome C 2.5 hours after triggering with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate. The oxygen radical production in macrophages from moderately or severely inflamed mucosa was reduced by median 69% (range 22%-79%, p < 0.027) after depletion of CD14+ cells, reaching a level similar to that found for virtually normal samples from the same IBD patients. Furthermore, this production did not increase significantly in mucosal macrophages from normal reference mucosa and from virtually normal or inflamed IBD mucosa after priming with interferon gamma with or without addition of lipopolysaccharide. Upregulation of a respiratory burst in subepithelial resident macrophages os not a likely pathogenetic step in IBD. The increased oxygen radical production shown by macrophages from IBD lesions can, however, be ascribed to recently extravasated CD14+L1+ monocyte-like cells. Inhibition of extravasation of these reactive cells may form part of a therapeutic approach in the future.
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PMID:Respiratory burst of intestinal macrophages in inflammatory bowel disease is mainly caused by CD14+L1+ monocyte derived cells. 759 Apr 32

5'-deoxy-5-fluorouridine (5'-FUdR) is a cytostatic that is biotransformed to 5-fluorouracil (5-FUra) by pyrimidine nucleoside phosphorylase (PyNPase), the expression of which is up-regulated by tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha), interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha) and interferon gamma (IFN gamma). In Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) cell cultures, these inflammatory cytokines up-regulated the expression of type-IV collagenase, metastatic factor, as well as PyNPase and consequently enhanced the antiproliferative activity of 5'-FUdR. However, the activity of 5-FUra was not enhanced. It appears that 5'-FUdR selectively kills highly metastatic cells which are exposed to these intrinsic cytokines in tumor tissues, because of their high PyNPase activity. In fact, 5'-FUdR inhibited the spontaneous metastasis of LLC from the s.c. inoculation site to the lung. When 5'-FUdR was given during the process of metastasis it greatly reduced the number of tumor nodules in the lung even at doses 46 times lower than those inhibiting the primary tumor growth. In addition, 5'-FUdR, but not 5-FUra, lowered type-IV collagenase levels in the tumors at the low dose showing only anti-metastatic activity. On the other hand, 5-FUra showed anti-metastatic activity at doses similar to or only several times lower than those inhibiting the primary tumor growth.
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PMID:Selective inhibition of spontaneous pulmonary metastasis of Lewis lung carcinoma by 5'-deoxy-5-fluorouridine. 775 57

In order to understand further the effects of Newcastle-disease-virus(NDV)-modified tumour vaccines we investigated the feasibility of isolating lymphocytes from the site of injection of patients undergoing postoperative active specific immunization (ASI) with autologous NDV-modified tumour cells. Delayed-type-hypersensitivity(DTH)-like reactions from five cancer patients were surgically removed, minced and the tissue particles were digested with collagenase and DNase. Lymphoid cells recovered were expanded in a highly efficient limiting-dilution analysis system optimized for T cell growth [Moretta et al. (1983) J Exp Med 157: 743] and lymphocyte microcultures (clonal probability > 0.8) could be grown for up to 1 year. Analysis of the microcultures for phenotype and function showed that the majority were positive for CD4 (92%) and TCR alpha beta (96%). Concanavalin-A-induced production of interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-6, interferon gamma and tumour necrosis factor alpha was detected in more than 70% of the microcultures. Lectin-dependent cytotoxicity was only very rarely observed. The general characteristics of the microcultures obtained support the notion of a DTH-like reaction taking place at the site of tumour cell challenge. The possibility of in vitro expansion and cultivation of T lymphocytes from ASI vaccination sites should help to elucidate further the role of these cells in active specific immunization against autologous tumour cells.
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PMID:In vitro expansion and analysis of T lymphocyte microcultures obtained from the vaccination sites of cancer patients undergoing active specific immunization with autologous Newcastle-disease-virus-modified tumour cells. 834 63

The treatment of systemic sclerosis (scleroderma) is difficult and remains a great challenge to the clinician. Because the cause is unknown, therapies are directed to improve peripheral blood circulation with vasodilators and antiplatelet aggregation drugs, to prevent the synthesis and release of harmful cytokines with immunosuppressant drugs, and to inhibit or reduce fibrosis with agents that reduce collagen synthesis or enhance collagenase production. The purpose of this review is to critically analyze conventional and new treatments of systemic sclerosis and localized scleroderma. The therapeutic options discussed for the treatment of systemic sclerosis include the use of (1) vasodilators (calcium channel blockers [nifedipine], angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors [captopril, losartan potassium], and prostaglandins [iloprost, epoprostenol]), (2) immunosuppressant drugs (methotrexate, cyclosporine, cyclophosphamide, and extracorporeal photopheresis), and (3) antifibrotic agents (D-penicillamine, colchicine, interferon gamma, and relaxin). The treatment options reviewed for localized scleroderma include the use of corticosteroids, vitamin D analogues (calcitriol, calcipotriene), UV-A, and methotrexate. Preliminary reports on new therapies for systemic sclerosis are also considered. These include the use of minocycline, psoralen-UV-A, lung transplantation, autologous stem cell transplantation, etanercept, and thalidomide.
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PMID:Treatment of scleroderma. 1179 Jan 73

Transplanted hepatocytes are ideal carriers for exogenous genes in liver gene therapy. The present study investigated the anti-fibrogenic effects of intrasplenically transplanted hepatocytes modified with interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) gene on cirrhotic rats. Hepatocytes isolated from normal Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were transfected with an adenoviral vector encoding human IFN-gamma gene (AdCMVhIFN-gamma) and transplanted into the spleens of syngenic recipients with ongoing liver fibrosis induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)). Histology was assessed, and liver hydroxyproline was detected. Additionally, serum procollagen type III (PIIINP) levels and hepatic collagenase activity were measured to determine hepatic collagen synthesis and degradation. Transplantation with AdCMVhIFN-gamma transfected hepatocytes ameliorated the histological outcome of liver fibrosis by reducing liver collagen content and decreasing hepatic hydroxyproline. Additionally, IFN-gamma transfected hepatocytes reduced serum PIIINP levels and increased hepatic collagenase activity. Our data suggest that transplantation of IFN-gamma transfected hepatocytes may reduce the pace of liver fibrosis by inhibiting the synthesis and enhancing the degradation of hepatic collagen.
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PMID:Intrasplenic transplantation of syngenic hepatocytes modified by IFN-gamma gene ameliorates hepatic fibrosis in rats. 1238 79

CITED2 (CBP/p300-interacting transactivator with ED-rich tail 2) is a member of the Cited family of nuclear regulators, previously known as mrg1 (melanocyte-specific gene-related gene 1). CITED2 is inducible by varying stimuli including lipopolysaccharide, hypoxia, and cytokines such as interleukin 9 and interferon gamma. Using the immortalized human chondrocyte cell line, C-28/I2, we investigated whether CITED2 could be responsive to mechanical stimuli, and if so, whether CITED2 could mediate shear-driven regulation of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) genes. The C-28/I2 cells were cultured under flow shear at 1-20 dyn/cm2, and the role of CIT-ED2 in regulation of MMPs was examined using the plasmids encoding sense and antisense CITED2 DNA sequences. The results showed that flow shear at 5 dyn/cm2 increased CITED2 mRNA and protein levels and down-regulated MMP-1 and MMP-13 mRNA and protein levels as well as enzyme activities. Consistent with the coordinated expression patterns of CITED2 and MMPs, overexpression of CITED2 repressed MMP-1 and MMP-13 mRNA levels and activities, whereas antisense CITED2 plasmids prevented the shear-induced down-regulation of MMP expression. Interleukin-1beta induced the formation of p300-Ets-1 complexes without affecting expression of CITED2. Transforming growth factor-beta as well as flow shear at 5 dyn/cm2 stimulated not only the expression of CITED2 but also the association of CIT-ED2 with p300 by dissociating Ets-1 from p300. These results indicate that CITED2 plays a major role in shear-induced down-regulation of MMP-1 and MMP-13 via a transforming growth factor-beta-dependent pathway.
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PMID:CITED2-mediated regulation of MMP-1 and MMP-13 in human chondrocytes under flow shear. 1296 Jan 75

We have recently shown that both interferon gamma (gamma) and interferon alpha-2b (alpha-2b) markedly depress the expression of messenger RNA for type I procollagen and fibronectin in postburn hypertrophic scar and normal dermal fibroblasts. In this article we examine the effects of these cytokines on the expression of mRNA for collagenase and its natural inhibitor, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1. Twelve different fibroblast cell strains, six from postburn hypertrophic scar and six from the normal dermis of the same patients, were established in cell culture. The results of a dose response experiment showed increases in collagenase mRNA up to 4000 U/ml of interferon-alpha-2b, but maximal increases in tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase mRNA expression and maximal decrease in mRNA for type I procollagen at 2000 U/ml. For subsequent experiments cells were treated with either interferon-alpha-2b (2000 U/ml) or -gamma (1000 U/ml) for 96 hours. Quantitative analysis showed increases in tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 and collagenase mRNA (81% and 54%, respectively) in interferon-alpha-2b-treated hypertrophic scar fibroblasts. Under the same experimental conditions, interferon-alpha-2b had similar effects on normal dermal fibroblasts; however, interferon-gamma had a differential effect on the expression of mRNA for collagenase and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1. Cells treated with interferon-gamma showed increases in tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 mRNA (78% in hypertrophic scar and 56% in normal dermal fibroblasts) but decreases (59% and 42%, respectively) in collagenase mRNA. These effects appear to be selective because rehybridization of blots with a complementary DNA for tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 mRNA showed no marked alteration in the abundance of this transcript. Significantly greater collagenase activity was found in conditioned medium from interferon-alpha-2b-treated hypertrophic scar cells compared with that from interferon-gamma-treated cells. These findings suggest that interferon alpha-2b would have some advantages over interferon-gamma for the treatment of dermal fibroproliferative disorders, such as postburn hypertrophic scar.
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PMID:Interferons gamma and alpha-2b differentially regulate the expression of collagenase and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 messenger RNA in human hypertrophic and normal dermal fibroblasts. 1717 46


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