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

The present study demonstrates that a granule fraction derived from human polymorphonuclear leukocytes possesses elastinolytic activity, and that the latter can be separated from the collagenase present in these cells. Properties of the human leukocyte elastase differ sufficiently from those of pancreatic elastases of different species as to suggest that the former enzyme is a distinct and separate entity. Thus, soybean trypsin inhibitor and salivary kallikrein inhibitor (Trasylol) fail to inhibit elastolysis by the pancreatic enzyme, but do inhibit the leukocyte elastinolytic agent. Elastolysis by human leukocyte granule extract does not show significant salt inhibition, whereas that catalyzed by pancreatic elastase is markedly reduced when ionic strength is increased to physiological levels. The leukocyte granule extract is at least 10 times more resistant to serum elastase inhibitor than is the purified pancreatic enzyme. Both enzymes show optimal elastolysis above pH 8.5, but the leukocyte factor still retains 50% of its maximal elastolytic activity at pH 6-7; whereas the activity of the pancreatic enzyme falls to 10% or less of its maximal value under the same conditions. The foregoing characteristics of the human leukocyte elastase suggest that it, rather than pancreatic (serum) elastase, may mediate pathological elastolysis during acute arteritis in man. In keeping with this suggestion, the present experiments also show that elastica staining of human arterial vessels is reduced by incubation of tissues with human leukocyte granule extracts in vitro.
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PMID:Mediators of inflammation in leukocyte lysosomes. IX. Elastinolytic activity in granules of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes. 530 65

Elastolysis, collagenolysis and gelatinolysis are essential in the pathogenesis of tobacco smoke-induced emphysema; however, these activities have been scantily studied in emphysema secondary to woodsmoke. The aim of this study was to analyze elastolysis, collagenolysis and gelatinolysis, MMP-1, MMP-2, and MMP-9 expression, and apoptosis in guinea pigs exposed to smoke produced by 60 g/day of pine wood, 5 days/week, from 1 to 7 months. Histological analysis after 4 to 7 months in smoke exposed guinea pigs showed alveolar mononuclear phagocyte and lymphocytic peribronchiolar inflammation, epithelial and smooth muscle hyperplasia, and pulmonary arterial hypertension. Mild to moderate emphysematous lesions were observed in woodsmoke-exposed animals at 4 to 7 months by increase of mean linear intercepts. A higher percentage of whole blood carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) and elastolytic activity in bronchoalveolar lavage macrophages and lung tissue homogenates was observed at all times. Collagenolysis was increased after 4 to 7 months in woodsmoke-exposed animals, although collagen concentration did not change. Zymography revealed increase in lysis bands of the active MMP-2 and MMP-9 at 4 and 7 months in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and lung tissue homogenate. Positive immunostaining for MMP-1 and MMP-9 was observed in epithelial cells and macrophages in wood exposed animals at 4 to 7 months. Real-time PCR showed MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression at 3 to 7 months in exposed animals. Furthermore, apoptosis was increased at all times in bronchoalveolar lavage macrophages and lung tissue from exposed animals. Results support a role of metalloproteinases and apoptosis in emphysema secondary to woodsmoke exposure.
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PMID:Increase of matrix metalloproteinases in woodsmoke-induced lung emphysema in guinea pigs. 1883 20