Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: EC:3.5.1.1 (asparaginase)
 2,695 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Alpha-2-antiplasmin, a major inhibitor of fibrinolysis, is synthesized in the liver and occurs in blood in two molecular forms: a very active plasminogen-binding (PB) form and a less active nonplasminogen-binding (NPB) form. This study investigates the origin and mutual relationship of these two forms in vivo and in vitro. Despite wide variation in plasma concentration of the inhibitor (16% to 138%), the ratio between the two forms in vivo was found to be, in the main, constant among healthy volunteers, heterozygotes for a congenital deficiency of alpha-2-antiplasmin, and patients with a stable liver cirrhosis: PB/NPB = 2.41 +/- 0.34 (SD). Resynthesis after depletion or increased synthesis in the acute-phase reaction showed a specific increase of the PB form of the molecule in blood after discontinuation of L-asparaginase or streptokinase therapy and after myocardial infarction. In vitro studies demonstrated that only the PB form was present after one day in the culture medium of the human cell line Hep G2, while the NPB form appeared after 11 days. Clearance after inhibition of synthesis by L-asparaginase therapy revealed a more rapid decrease in the PB form relative to the NPB form in blood, demonstrated by a change in the PB-NPB ratio from 2.86 +/- 0.55 to 1.74 +/- 0.24 (mean of 6, SD). An apparently spontaneous first order conversion from the PB to NPB form, with an apparent half-life of about eight days, was demonstrated at 37 degrees C in plasma and serum in vitro. The conversion was found to be temperature dependent and uninfluenced by the fibrinolytic components fibrinogen, fibrin, and plasminogen. Additions of a variety of enzymes or inhibitors did not interfere with the process. These results demonstrate that the PB form of alpha-2-antiplasmin is produced by the liver and that the NPB form is formed in the circulation.
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PMID:The mutual relationship between the two molecular forms of the major fibrinolysis inhibitor alpha-2-antiplasmin in blood. 241 96

This paper reported on a series of 49 elderly patients over 60 years of age affected by acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), observed at our institution from 1969 to 1993. The biological characteristics considered, median WBC count, FAB classification, immunophenotype at onset of disease, were no different from those of our adult ALL series. Overall complete remission (CR) rate of these patients was 59%, 18% had resistant disease and 23% died during induction. Overall median survival was 9 months and overall median duration of CR was 7 months. All patients were divided according to treatment into two groups: group A (13 patients) received an intensive treatment including vincristine (VCR), prednisone (PDN), daunorubicin (DNR) and L-asparaginase (L-Asp), while in group B (36 patients) were included patients who received mild conventional induction with VCR and PDN. In group A, 77% of patients achieved CR and 23% died during induction. All patients were hospitalized during induction treatment. During follow-up, among 10 CRs, five (50%) died in CR because of hemorrhage (two), infections (two) and myocardial infarction (one); five (50%) relapsed. Median survival was 4 months and median duration of CR was 3.5 months. In group B, 53% of patients obtained CR, 25% had resistant disease and 22% died during induction. During induction, 44% of patients were hospitalized. During follow-up, among 19 CRs, 14 (74%) relapsed and three (15%) died in CR because of infection (two) and cardiorespiratory failure (one). Three patients (15%) are still alive: two in first CR and one in second CR. No statistical differences between the two groups in terms of CR rate or survival were noted. Standardized therapeutic trials are needed better to evaluate results in these patients, considering also the introduction of new therapeutic agents or supportive treatments, such as growth factors.
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PMID:Acute lymphoblastic leukemia in the elderly: results of two different treatment approaches in 49 patients during a 25-year period. 756 3

The use of polymers for delivering peptide and protein drugs is described. Soluble-polymer technology attempts to bind a polymer to all sites on therapeutic protein molecules that cause the body to recognize the molecules as foreign. Goals include a stable linkage, water solubility, low immunogenicity, prolonged half-life, and intact biological activity. Polyethylene glycol (PEG)-adenosine deaminase (ADA), or pegademase bovine, has FDA-approved labeling as replacement therapy for ADA deficiency in patients with severe combined immunodeficiency disease who are not suitable candidates for bone marrow transplantation. Pegademase bovine reverses the toxic accumulation of adenosine and deoxyadenosine in adenosine deaminase-deficient cells, restoring the immune system. PEG-asparaginase (pegaspargase) has shown promise in patients with acute lymphocytic leukemia; allergic reactions have been minimal. Animal studies suggest that superoxide dismutase has potential use in conditions in which the body's ability to remove oxygen free radicals is reduced, such as burns and myocardial infarction; coupling with PEG may greatly increase the protein's half-life. Other PEG-conjugated proteins under investigation include PEG-catalase, PEG-uricase, PEG-honeybee venom, PEG-hemoglobin, and PEG-modified ragweed pollen extract. Dextran, albumin, DL-amino acids, and polyvinyl pyrrolidone have also been studied as protein carriers; most of the products created thus far have not shown much promise. The coupling of polymers to proteins has yielded protein drugs with intact biological activity and reduced immunogenicity, but much remains to be learned about this technology.
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PMID:Polymers for delivering peptides and proteins. 816 Jun 72

Cytostatic antibiotics of the anthracycline class are the best known of the chemotherapeutic agents that cause cardiotoxicity. Alkylating agents such as cyclophosphamide, ifosfamide, cisplatin, carmustine, busulfan, chlormethine and mitomycin have also been associated with cardiotoxicity. Other agents that may induce a cardiac event include paclitaxel, etoposide, teniposide, the vinca alkaloids, fluorouracil, cytarabine, amsacrine, cladribine, asparaginase, tretinoin and pentostatin. Cardiotoxicity is rare with some agents, but may occur in >20% of patients treated with doxorubicin, daunorubicin or fluorouracil. Cardiac events may include mild blood pressure changes, thrombosis, electrocardiographic changes, arrhythmias, myocarditis, pericarditis, myocardial infarction, cardiomyopathy, cardiac failure (left ventricular failure) and congestive heart failure. These may occur during or shortly after treatment, within days or weeks after treatment, or may not be apparent until months, and sometimes years, after completion of chemotherapy. A number of risk factors may predispose a patient to cardiotoxicity. These are: cumulative dose (anthracyclines, mitomycin); total dose administered during a day or a course (cyclophosphamide, ifosfamide, carmustine, fluorouracil, cytarabine); rate of administration (anthracyclines, fluorouracil); schedule of administration (anthracyclines); mediastinal radiation; age; female gender; concurrent administration of cardiotoxic agents; prior anthracycline chemotherapy; history of or pre-existing cardiovascular disorders; and electrolyte imbalances such as hypokalaemia and hypomagnesaemia. The potential for cardiotoxicity should be recognised before therapy is initiated. Patients should be screened for risk factors, and an attempt to modify them should be made. Monitoring for cardiac events and their treatment will usually depend on the signs and symptoms anticipated and exhibited. Patients may be asymptomatic, with the only manifestation being electrocardiographic changes. Continuous cardiac monitoring, baseline and regular electrocardiographic and echocardiographic studies, radionuclide angiography and measurement of serum electrolytes and cardiac enzymes may be considered in patients with risk factors or those with a history of cardiotoxicity. Treatment of most cardiac events induced by chemotherapy is symptomatic. Agents that can be used prophylactically are few, although dexrazoxane, a cardioprotective agent specific for anthracycline chemotherapy, has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. Cardiotoxicity can be prevented by screening and modifying risk factors, aggressively monitoring for signs and symptoms as chemotherapy is administered, and continuing follow-up after completion of a course or the entire treatment. Prompt measures such as discontinuation or modification of chemotherapy or use of appropriate drug therapy should be initiated on the basis of changes in monitoring parameters before the patient exhibits signs and symptoms of cardiotoxicity.
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PMID:Cardiotoxicity of chemotherapeutic agents: incidence, treatment and prevention. 1078 23

Haemostatic abnormalities may occur in 1-2% of patients treated with L-asparaginase. Here, we present the second case of a myocardial infarction, developing in a patient with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), in the course of L-asparaginase treatment. In our patient and in the only one reported case from the literature, a recent exposure to vincristine and daunorubicin was also reported, but induction chemotherapy program was completed as scheduled, with the only withdrawal of L-asparaginase. Myocardial infarction should be included in the list of thrombotic complications possibly associated with L-asparaginase treatment, or with a combination of L-asparaginase and vinca alkaloids/anthracycline.
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PMID:Myocardial ischemia in a patient with acute lymphoblastic leukemia during L-asparaginase therapy. 1496 68

Research and drug developments fostered under orphan drug product development programs have greatly assisted the introduction of efficient and safe enzyme-based therapies for a range of rare disorders. The introduction and regulatory approval of 20 different recombinant enzymes has enabled, often for the first time, effective enzyme-replacement therapy for some lysosomal storage disorders, including Gaucher (imiglucerase, taliglucerase, and velaglucerase), Fabry (agalsidase alfa and beta), and Pompe (alglucosidase alfa) diseases and mucopolysaccharidoses I (laronidase), II (idursulfase), IVA (elosulfase), and VI (galsulfase). Approved recombinant enzymes are also now used as therapy for myocardial infarction (alteplase, reteplase, and tenecteplase), cystic fibrosis (dornase alfa), chronic gout (pegloticase), tumor lysis syndrome (rasburicase), leukemia (L-asparaginase), some collagen-based disorders such as Dupuytren's contracture (collagenase), severe combined immunodeficiency disease (pegademase bovine), detoxification of methotrexate (glucarpidase), and vitreomacular adhesion (ocriplasmin). The development of these efficacious and safe enzyme-based therapies has occurred hand in hand with some remarkable advances in the preparation of the often specifically designed recombinant enzymes; the manufacturing expertise necessary for commercial production; our understanding of underlying mechanisms operative in the different diseases; and the mechanisms of action of the relevant recombinant enzymes. Together with information on these mechanisms, safety findings recorded so far on the various adverse events and problems of immunogenicity of the recombinant enzymes used for therapy are presented.
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PMID:Enzymes approved for human therapy: indications, mechanisms and adverse effects. 2564 40