Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0026850 (muscular dystrophy)
 5,870 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

In our previous research, we found that the level of the plasminogen activity in the plasma from Duchenne-type patients with progressive muscular dystrophy was higher than of the normal boys, though the level of the plasmin inhibitors was lower. Therefore, in the present study, we investigated the differences in the fractions of plasmin inhibitors. The subjects were nine patients (the average age being 17.1 years) who had been diagnosed, by clinical and biochemical tests, as having PMD; serving as controls were normal boys (the average age being 15 years), the patients' mothers, and the mothers of the normal boys. The plasmin inhibitors were separated from plasma using lysine-Sepharose columns according to the method of Urita et al. The determination was performed based on the method of Aoyagi et al. and an immunoreactive assay. The results were as follows: (1) No significant differences were seen between patients with PMD and control subjects with respect to either alpha 1-antichymotrypsin, antithrombin III, and alpha 1-antitrypsin or alpha 2-macroglobulin and inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitors. These results suggested that the low level of plasmin inhibitors in patients was due to the low activity of the C1 inactivator. (2) The patients with PMD showed lower values than the normal boys in the levels of C1 inactivator in plasma; similarly, the mothers of these patients showed lower values than the normal mothers.
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PMID:Plasma plasmin inhibitors in Duchenne-type progressive muscular dystrophy. 316 Mar 43

The plasminogen system is a critical proteolytic system responsible for the remodeling of the extracellular matrix (ECM). The master regulator of the plasminogen system, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), has been implicated for its role in exacerbating various disease states not only through the accumulation of ECM (i.e., fibrosis) but also its role in altering cell fate/behaviour. Examination of PAI-1 has extended through various tissues and cell-types with recent investigations showing its presence in skeletal muscle. In skeletal muscle, the role of this protein has been implicated throughout the regeneration process, and in skeletal muscle pathologies (muscular dystrophy, diabetes, and aging-driven pathology). Needless to say, the complete function of this protein in skeletal muscle has yet to be fully elucidated. Given the importance of skeletal muscle in maintaining overall health and quality of life, it is critical to understand the alterations-particularly in PAI-1-that occur to negatively impact this organ. Thus, we provide a comprehensive review of the importance of PAI-1 in skeletal muscle health and function. We aim to shed light on the relevance of this protein in skeletal muscle and propose potential therapeutic approaches to aid in the maintenance of skeletal muscle health.
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PMID:PAI-1, the Plasminogen System, and Skeletal Muscle. 3299 26