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)

The neuropeptides are involved in the immune response and in hormonal homeostasis. In this review, we analyse the interactions between the cytokine, the neuropeptide and the hormonal networks in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We first consider pituitary-adrenal axis dysfunction in RA. An inappropriate response to cortisol in chronic inflammation has been reported, i.e., a decrease of the corticotropin-releasing-hormone (CRH) secretion by the hypothalamus. In contrast, the immunostimulant hormone prolactin (PRL) is upregulated. PRL is released by the pituitary after stimulation by neuropeptides [serotonin, thyroid-releasing-hormone (TRH), or vasoactive-intestinal-peptide (VIP)], and is down-regulated by pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1, IL-6). The decreased testosterone concentration observed in male RA patients is associated with HLA B 15. Thus, an altered sex hormone status and a genetic predisposition are related to HLA antigens, and increase the subject's susceptibility to the development of RA. The terminal C fibres release neurotransmitters such as substance P, neurokinin A and calcitonin-gene-related-peptide (CGRP) within the joints, and contribute to local inflammation, synoviocyte proliferation and collagenase production. The parasympathetic system may attenuate the immune response through the neuropeptide VIP. In contrast, the beta 2 adrenergic fibres of the sympathetic nervous system increase joints degradation in RA. This review presents the currently extensive knowledge regarding the immune-neuro-hormonal network, and its implication in the pathogenesis of RA.
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PMID:Modulation of the immune response by the neuro-endocrine axis in rheumatoid arthritis. 795 11

Endothelial cells were derived from aortic and mitral valves (n = 17) by collagenase digestion and subsequently cultivated in RPMI medium supplemented with 20% fetal calf serum. The cells were stained in an alkaline phosphatase-anti-alkaline phosphatase stain for the expression of MHC Class I and Class II antigens, ICAM-1, ELAM-1, F VIII, and H/Y. The endothelium showed a strong expression of Class I, H/Y, and ICAM-1 molecules, and weak expression of MHC Class II molecules. In contrast to vascular endothelium that is known to express F VIII constitutively, cardiac valve endothelium was found to be negative. F VIII and ELAM-1 were only expressed after stimulation with recombinant interferon-gamma. To analyze the immunogenicity of valve endothelium, cells were used as stimulator cells in a mixed cell culture reaction using lymphocytes as responder cells. Endothelial cells had a 2 to 3 times higher stimulatory effect than peripheral blood lymphocytes. These data allow speculation on whether the observed degeneration of homografts can be reduced if HLA matching is performed prior to valve implantation.
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PMID:In vitro cultivation and immunogenicity of human cardiac valve endothelium. 828 71

Human vascular endothelial cells (HUVEC) exhibit various immunological functions, i.e. expression of HLA class-II antigens after incubation with IFN-gamma or antigen presenting function. It has also been reported that HUVEC are able to produce IL-1, IL-6, GM-CSF and immunologically active cleavage products of arachidonic acid. In our study we investigated whether various cytokines, namely IL-1, IL-2, IL-6, GM-CSF and IFN-gamma, do alter the proliferative capacity of HUVEC, the production of van Willebrandt factor (vWF) and the expression of MHC class-II antigens. HUVEC were prepared by the collagenase digestion of human umbilical veins. Monolayers of cells were incubated with cytokines in different concentrations for 24 and 48 h. IFN-gamma inhibits the HUVEC [3H]thymidine uptake in a dose-dependent manner. Suppression of proliferation (40.1%) could be observed after 24 h incubation with 100 U IFN-gamma/ml. IL-1 was a more effective inhibitor of HUVEC proliferation (54% at 10 U/ml and 24 h incubation and 48.4% after 48 h) than IFN-gamma. IL-6 and GM-CSF showed an increasing effect on proliferation with 226% and 151% of the control group, respectively. IFN-gamma after an incubation period of 12 h and IL-1 after 24 h reduced the vWF content by about 30%. Bright MHC class-II expression was induced only by IFN-gamma. In conclusion, some of the immunoregulative cytokines might play an important role in the control of HUVEC proliferation.
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PMID:Effects of interleukin-1, -2, -4, -6, interferon-gamma and granulocyte/macrophage colony stimulating factor on human vascular endothelial cells. 850 49

The aim of the study was to immunolocalise interstitial collagenase (MMP-1) and the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP-1) in ulcerating corneas from patients with rheumatoid arthritis, to determine whether changes in expression are associated with destructive corneal disease. Collagenase was expressed by stromal cells in 8 of 8 ulcerating corneas but was not seen in normal tissue (n = 3). TIMP-1 was abundant throughout the normal stroma, but was much reduced or absent from diseased corneas. Collagenase staining was frequently more intense near the epithelial surface and associated with a cellular infiltrate consisting of activated antigen-presenting cells (HLA-DR+), many of which were macrophages (CD68+) and derived from the epithelium or limbus (S100+). Interstitial collagenase produced by infiltrating macrophages and/or stimulated corneal fibrocytes is probably a major mediator of collagen degradation in rheumatoid corneal ulceration. In addition, reduced levels of TIMP-1 expression are consistent with collagenase activity and tissue destruction. Epithelial-stromal cell interactions and the production of local inflammatory mediators are of major importance in the pathogenesis of corneal destruction, although the precise nature of the antigenic stimulation and/or cellular interactions remains to be elucidated.
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PMID:Collagenase (MMP-1) and TIMP-1 in destructive corneal disease associated with rheumatoid arthritis. 884 37

Fundic Gland Polyps (FGPs) are small sessile (2-5 mm), usually multiple polyps arising in the gastric, acid-secreting mucosa of disputed histogenesis. They have been described in a sporadic form, prevalently in middle aged females, or associated with familial adenomatosis coli-Gardner's syndrome. We performed an immunohistochemical study on 24 sporadic FGPs, using monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against differentiation markers, class II MHC antigens (HLA-DR), oncofetal and proliferation antigens, aimed to characterize the antigenic profile of the polyps. A preliminary cytogenetic study on five polyps was also done, using an in situ culture method after collagenase treatment. Cytokeratins 8-18 (CAM 5.2 MAb) and 20 (IT-Ks 20.8 MAb), Epithelial Membrane Antigen (EMA) and Chromogranin A were normally expressed by FGPs. FGPs did not express HLA II DR. FGPs did not react with an anti-CEA MAb (F6), but they were frequently positive (22/24, 91.6%) with B72.3 MAb (reacting with the cancer-associated mucin epitope sialyl-Tn). The PC10 MAb (against PCNA or cyclin) showed enhanced expression in the deep glandular-cystic compartment of FGPs; the PCNA index of FGPs was significantly higher than in normal fundic mucosa. The cytogenetic study on the 5 cases analysed, revealed a normal karyotype. We have demonstrated that FGPs express in the paranuclear zone the sialyl-Tn epitope, a side-chain sugar normally masqued in adult gastric mucins, thus revealing an alteration in mucin synthesis; FGPs' higher proliferation index as compared with normal fundic mucosa supports the hypothesis of their hyperproliferative nature.
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PMID:Sporadic fundic gland polyps: an immunohistochemical study of their antigenic profile. 889 16

Orthotopic liver transplantation is the most effective treatment for fulminant hepatic failure. As an alternative treatment, an efficient extracorporeal bioartificial liver should contain a large yield of functional hepatocytes with an immunoprotective barrier, for providing temporary adequate metabolic support to allow spontaneous liver regeneration or for acting as a bridge toward transplantation. Survival, proliferation, and functions of porcine hepatocytes were evaluated in primary cultures and after embedding in alginate beads, which were subsequently coated with a membrane made by a transacylation reaction between propylene glycol alginate and human serum albumin. Disruption of total pig livers by collagenase perfusion/recirculation allowed the obtention of up to 10(11) hepatocytes with a viability greater than 95%. Hepatocytes in conventional cultures or embedded in coated alginate beads survived for about 10 days, secreted proteins, particularly albumin, and maintained several phase I and II enzymatic activities, namely ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase, oxidation of nifedipine to pyridine, phenacetin deethylation to paracetamol, glucuroconjugation of paracetamol, and N-acetylation of procainamide. Typical features of mitosis and [3H]thymidine incorporation indicated that porcine hepatocytes proliferated in both conventional cultures and alginate beads. The efficacy of the membrane surrounding alginate beads for protecting cells from immunoglobulins was tested by embedding HLA-typed human lymphocytes, which were subsequently incubated with specific anti-HLA immunoglobulin G and complement. These data show that large yields of porcine hepatocytes that are embedded in coated alginate beads remain functional and are isolated from large molecular weight molecules, such as immunoglobulins. This system represents a promising tool for the design of an extracorporeal bioartificial liver, containing xenogeneic hepatocytes, to treat acute liver disease in humans.
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PMID:Survival, proliferation, and functions of porcine hepatocytes encapsulated in coated alginate beads: a step toward a reliable bioartificial liver. 908 17

Macrophages play an important role in the intestinal mucosal immune system. However, they are a poorly defined cell population. We therefore determined their phenotype in normal colonic mucosa. Macrophages were isolated from colonic biopsies and surgical specimens by collagenase digestion. Colonic macrophages were positively sorted by anti-CD33 magnetic beads. Flow cytometric triple fluorescence analysis was applied to study CD14, CD16, CD33, CD44, CD11b, CD11c, CD64, HLA-DR, CD80, CD86 and CD3/CD19 expression. CD33 was evaluated as a positive marker for intestinal macrophages. CD33+ cells isolated from normal colonic mucosa showed co-expression of the established intracellular macrophage marker CD68 in FACS analysis. CD33+ cells were capable of phagocytosis. Isolation of this cell population by magnetic anti-CD33 beads and culture resulted in a 4.2-40-fold increase in IL-1beta and 4.5-44-fold increase in tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) secretion compared with unsorted lamina propria mononuclear cells (LPMC). Of the CD33+ cells, 90.9 +/- 6.9% (mean +/- s.d.) were CD44+. However, macrophages from colonic mucosa showed only a low expression of CD14 (10.5 +/- 3.8%), CD16 (10.1 +/- 3.9%), HLA-DR (27.3 +/- 9.2%), CD11b (17.4 +/- 6.8%), CD11c (17.8 +/- 10.4%). Furthermore, expression of CD80 (9.2 +/- 4.2%) and CD86 (15.1 +/- 7.3%) was low, suggesting a low ability of normal intestinal macrophages to activate T cells and T cell-mediated immune responses. We conclude that CD33 is useful for the isolation and flow cytometric characterization of colonic macrophages. These cells exhibit a single phenotype in normal mucosa (CD33++, CD44++, CD14-, CD16-, CD11b-, CD11c-, HLA-DRlow, CD80-, CD86-) lacking lipopolysaccharide (LPS) receptor and costimulatory molecules.
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PMID:Isolation and phenotypic characterization of colonic macrophages. 964 82

Mucosal intestinal lymphocytes form the first immune-cell line of defense in the intestine. Several methodologies, most of them cumbersome and time consuming, have been used to obtain T-cell clones to unveil their physiological role. In the present work we take advantage of the recently described technique of transformation of T lymphocytes using Herpesvirus saimiri to show that it is possible to immortalize intestinal T-cell lines derived from healthy and diseased colonic samples and thence easily obtain in vitro intestinal T-cell lines as a model for physiopathological studies. Intestinal samples were obtained by colonoscopy and digested with dispase and collagenase. Mucosal lymphocytes (assessed by the expression of the CD3 and CD103 markers) were isolated using a Percoll gradient centrifugation and transformed with Herpesvirus saimiri. Sustained growth was observed 3 months later, showing that the cells were successfully transformed, a finding further confirmed by PCR. All cell lines were CD8+TcRalphabeta+ and HLA-DR+. CD25 was expressed on 1% of Crohn's disease-derived cells and on 25% of cells derived from patients with ulcerative colitis. CD80 expression was found on 80-90% of the cells. These immortal cell lines of intestinal origin may be useful in future experiments aimed at elucidating the role of mucosal lymphocytes in health and disease.
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PMID:Successful in vitro immortalization of human intestinal mucosal lymphocytes with Herpesvirus saimiri. 986 32

Immunological rejection of kidney allografts is usually attributed to presensitization to HLA antigens. However, data on HLA identical transplant rejections indicate that non-HLA antigens may also be involved, and it has been suggested that vascular endothelium represents the main target cell. The purpose of the present study is to describe a method of detecting non-HLA antibodies immunocytochemically. We showed the molecular independence between HLA-ABC molecules identified by the monoclonal antibody w6/32, and antigenic sites identified by a kidney rejection patient serum, previously characterized, on cultured endothelial cells isolated from human umbilical cords by collagenase digestion. Single immunofluorescence staining indicated the molecular independence between these antigenic sites, as the first serum showed a granular pattern, diffused throughout the cytoplasm and the other a reticular pattern restricted to the same cytoplasmic region. This result was confirmed by double labeling. Immunoelectronmicroscopy study also confirmed site independence, showing labeling patterns with different intensities and distinct localizations, using 10- and 20-nm colloidal gold particles to reveal HLA-ABC and non-HLA-ABC determinants, respectively. In conclusion, cultured endothelial cells may be used immunocytochemically to detect non-HLA-ABC determinants of antibody reactivity in renal graft recipients, and the indirect immunofluorescence may be the methodology of choice, since it is easy, reliable and low cost.
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PMID:Detection and localization of non-HLA-ABC antigenic sites relevant to kidney rejection on endothelial cells. 1129 83

Dendritic cells (DCs) in the pregnant human uterine mucosa have been poorly characterized, although they are likely to regulate immune responses to both placental trophoblast cells and uterine infections. In this study an HLA-DR+, CD11c+ lin- (CD3-, CD19-, CD56-, CD14-) population has been identified by three-color flow cytometry. The cell isolates were prepared either by collagenase digestion or mechanically from first-trimester decidual tissue. The decidual DCs comprised approximately 1.7% of CD45+ cells in the isolates and had the phenotype of immature myeloid DCs. No CD1a+ Langerhans cells or CD123+ plasmacytoid DCs were detected. The decidual DCs were DC-SIGN-, DEC-205+, CD40+. Two subsets could be distinguished on the basis of relative expression of HLA-DR, which also differed in expression of DC-activation markers. The DCs were identified in situ by immunohistology by DEC-205 staining. Cells with dendritic processes were found scattered through both the decidua basalis (in which trophoblast cells are infiltrating) and the decidua parietalis. They were also visible in endothelial-lined spaces. This is the first study to identify and describe the phenotype and distribution of human decidual DCs.
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PMID:Dendritic cells in the human decidua. 1282 83


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