Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0032285 (pneumonia)
54,520 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Radiation pneumonitis is a major complication of radiation therapy. However, the detailed cellular mechanisms have not been clearly defined. Based on the recognition that basement membrane disruption occurs in acute lung injury and that matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 can degrade type IV collagen, one of the major components of the basement membrane, we hypothesized that ionizing radiation would modulate MMP-2 production in human lung epithelial cells. To evaluate this, the modulation of MMP-2 with irradiation was investigated in normal human bronchial epithelial cells as well as in A549 cells. We measured the activity of MMP-2 in the conditioned medium with zymography and the MMP-2 mRNA level with RT-PCR. Both of these cells constitutively expressed 72-kDa gelatinolytic activity, corresponding to MMP-2, and exposure to radiation increased this activity. Consistent with the data of zymography, ionizing radiation increased the level of MMP-2 mRNA. This radiation-induced increase in MMP-2 expression was mediated via p53 because the p53 antisense oligonucleotide abolished the increase in MMP-2 activity as well as the accumulation of p53 after irradiation in A549 cells. These results indicate that MMP-2 expression by human lung epithelial cells is involved in radiation-induced lung injury.
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PMID:Ionizing radiation enhances matrix metalloproteinase-2 production in human lung epithelial cells. 1113 92

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease characterized by the increased production of autoantibodies and by systemic clinical manifestations and damage to multiple organs. The aim of the present study was to analyse matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 activity in sera of patients with active and inactive SLE in order to evaluate its role in the pathogenesis and course of the disease, as well as its diagnostic value. We measured activity levels of MMP-9 and MMP-2, using both gel zymography and activity assay kits, in sera of 40 SLE patients and of 25 healthy controls. We found that MMP-9 activity, but not MMP-2 activity, is significantly elevated in the sera of SLE patients compared with sera samples of healthy controls. High activity levels of MMP-9 were determined in sera of 68% of the SLE patients. Elevated levels of MMP-9 were correlated with the presence of discoid rash, Raynaud phenomenon, pneumonitis, mucosal ulcers and anti-phospholipid antibodies. Changes in activity levels of MMP-9, but not of MMP-2, were observed in sera of the same patient at different periods of the disease course. High levels of MMP-9 did not correlate with disease activity index (SLEDAI, BILAG) in female patients, but correlated with SLE activity in the group of male patients. The results of the present study suggest that MMP-9 plays a role in the pathogenesis of SLE.
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PMID:Activity of matrix metalloproteinase-9 is elevated in sera of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. 1187 67

In hospital-acquired pneumonia, extracellular matrix destruction is common and may be caused by excessive activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Thirty patients with hospital-acquired pneumonia and 16 control subjects were studied. We evaluated the concentrations of MMP-8, MMP-9, and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 in mini-bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (mini-BALF) and blood using zymography and specific immunoassays. In patients with hospital-acquired pneumonia concentrations of MMP-8 and MMP-9 in mini-BALF were increased 10-fold, whereas their specific inhibitor tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 was not concomitantly increased. In 80% of patients with pneumonia, but in none of the control subjects, the active form of MMP-9 was detected by zymography. Zymography furthermore showed the banding pattern of neutrophil-derived MMP-9, indicating that neutrophils were the main source of MMP-9. Comparison of neutrophils from blood and mini-BALF showed higher basal release of MMPs by pulmonary neutrophils. Stimulation analysis indicated that pulmonary neutrophils were already maximally activated. In patients with detection of potentially pathogenic microorganisms, concentrations of MMPs were fivefold increased compared with patients with negative cultures. Furthermore, MMP-levels were related to clinical severity. These are the first data suggesting that neutrophil-derived MMPs are increased in hospital-acquired pneumonia in association to the detection of causative microorganisms and clinical severity.
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PMID:Pulmonary matrix metalloproteinase excess in hospital-acquired pneumonia. 1469 11

To determine the role of matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP-7) in the pathogenesis of chlamydial infection, C57BL/6 wild-type (WT) and MMP-7 knockout (KO) mice were infected intravaginally with Chlamydia trachomatis mouse pneumonitis (MoPn). Over a period of 6 weeks postinfection, various organs were cultured for C. trachomatis. Other infected animals were mated to assess their fertility status. No significant differences were observed between WT and KO mice in the number of animals with positive vaginal cultures, length of time of C. trachomatis shedding, or the number of C. trachomatis inclusion-forming units (IFU) recovered from their genital tracts. Likewise, the number of animals with hydrosalpinx, and the fertility rates and the number of embryos per mouse, were similar in WT and KO mice. Cultures from the spleen, lungs, kidneys and large intestine yielded similar numbers of IFU from WT and KO mice. However, the number of C. trachomatis IFU recovered from the small intestine of KO mice was significantly higher than that recovered from the small intestine of WT mice at 2 weeks postinfection. Because MMP-7 KO mice are deficient in active intestinal alpha-defensins, the results suggest that these components play a role in regulating colonization of the gastrointestinal tract by Chlamydia. By contrast, MMP-7 is dispensable in the progression and resolution of the genital tract infection.
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PMID:Role of matrix metalloproteinase-7 in the modulation of a Chlamydia trachomatis infection. 1642 57

Occupational exposure to metal fume promotes a reversible increase in the risk of pneumonia, but by mechanisms which are unclear. To investigate, the current authors measured various markers of host defence function in welders and nonwelders. Induced sputum and venous blood samples were collected from 27 welders with regular long-term exposure to ferrous metal fume and 31 unexposed matched controls. In sputum, the present authors measured cell counts, the soluble and cellular iron concentration, and levels of interleukin-8, tumour necrosis factor-alpha, myeloperoxidase, matrix metalloproteinase-9, immunoglobulin (Ig)A, alpha(2)-macroglobulin and unsaturated iron-binding capacity. Blood samples were assayed for evidence of neutrophil activation and pneumococcal IgG antibodies. Welders had significantly higher iron levels and a substantially lower unsaturated iron-binding capacity in their sputum, but, despite a high iron challenge, there was a noteworthy absence of an inflammatory response. Only blood counts of eosinophils and basophils were significantly related to the extent of welding. Weak nonsignificant trends were observed for several other measures, consistent with low-grade priming of neutrophils. In conclusion, these data suggest that chronic exposure to metal fume blunts responsiveness to inhaled particulate matter. However, the mechanism behind the lack of detectable local inflammatory response requires further investigation.
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PMID:Inflammatory responses to the occupational inhalation of metal fume. 1645 94

In this comprehensive review, two very closely related interstitial pneumonias are discussed: the cryptogenic form of organizing pneumonia (COP); and secondary forms of organizing pneumonia (OP), which occur in association with identifiable medical conditions. Some newer and lesser known of these associated conditions are described, most importantly post-radiation OP.Rapidly progressive, corticosteroid-resistant and poor prognostic forms of OP have been described. These types purportedly occur more frequently in secondary OP. However, OPs frequently coexist with other interstitial pneumonias, especially when associated with connective tissue diseases. Therefore, tissue sampling error or an incorrect morphologic diagnosis can be the basis for the occurrence of clinically aggressive OPs. By using the 2002 American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society diagnostic criteria, some pre-2002 cases reported as OP would be re-classified today.Although COP is considered to have a good prognosis and to be corticosteroid responsive, approximately 70% of patients, treated with corticosteroids, relapse even during initial treatment. Multiple and late relapses occur in about one-third of the patients. We performed a meta-analysis of second-line treatment options for corticosteroid-refractory forms of OP. Three alternative nonsteroid agents - cyclophosphamide, azathioprine, and cyclosporin - have been used in combination with corticosteroids. On careful review, in a number of cases reported as secondary OP, other histologic interstitial patterns besides OP were described. The need for second-line therapy in these patients might have been dictated by the non-organizing pneumonic component. Most of the scant number of reports come from outside the US. World experience with these is limited, but good clinical outcomes have been noted, even in patients with interstitial patterns in addition to OP.The initiation of the OP tissue response in the bronchiolar and sub-bronchiolar location may be due to the presence of bronchiolar-associated lymphoid tissue found at the bifurcations of the bronchioles. Inhaled antigens stimulate granulocyte colony stimulating factor-mediated airway inflammation, followed later by CD44-mediated clearance. Repair requires intrabronchiolar formation of granulation tissue and a favorable ratio of matrix metalloproteinase to tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase (MMP : TIMP) within the stroma. This reparative milieu allows extracellular matrix degradation and re-synthesis to occur. MMP-expressing fibroblasts then phagocytose the collagen fibrils and microfibrils produced earlier in repair, reversing the initial fibrosis.
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PMID:The organizing pneumonias : a critical review of current concepts and treatment. 1669 89

To elucidate the virus-host cell interaction, we analyzed quantitatively the expression of various cellular proteases and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) after Sendai virus infection in rat lungs and lung L2 cells. After infection, TNF-alpha mRNA levels increased rapidly to a peak on day one, and then trypsin I and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9, but not MMP-2, were significantly up-regulated with a peak on day 2 in vivo. These up-regulations were confirmed in L2 cells. Up-regulation of proMMP-9 and its active convertase trypsin I seems to synergistically enhance virus multiplication and the destruction of lung matrix, resulting in the progression of pneumonia.
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PMID:Sendai virus infection up-regulates trypsin I and matrix metalloproteinase-9, triggering viral multiplication and matrix degradation in rat lungs and lung L2 cells. 1681 95

Sub-MIC levels of macrolides down-regulate bacterial virulence factors and suppress inflammatory processes. The ability of macrolides to reduce the production of pneumolysin has been shown to explain the discrepancy between in vitro resistance and outcomes with macrolides against macrolide-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae. In this study, we determined whether the ability of macrolides to regulate inflammatory processes is beneficial for innate resistance to macrolide-resistant pneumococci in a murine pneumonia model. Among the macrolides tested, only roxithromycin did not affect in vitro pneumococcal virulence factors at sub-MIC levels. Roxithromycin (1.25 to 10 mg/kg of body weight/day) was administered to mice by oral gavage for 3 days before infection with a resistant strain of S. pneumoniae. We evaluated the efficacy of the treatment by determining mouse survival curves and by measuring bacterial burdens and several inflammatory parameters in the airways. Pneumolysin and PspA in infected lungs were examined by Western blot assay. Roxithromycin at doses of > or =5 mg/kg/day increased the median survival time and retarded bacteremia without suppressing the production of pneumolysin and PspA in infected lungs. This treatment reduced matrix metalloproteinase-7 expression and activation and keratinocyte-derived chemokine production in the lungs, while it increased mononuclear cell responses in the lungs, with enhanced bacterial clearance. Concentrations of roxithromycin in plasma and tissues were below the MICs for the inoculated strain during infection. The treatment also reduced inflammatory responses to killed pneumococci in the lungs. These results suggest that the modification by roxithromycin of airway inflammatory responses, including those of matrix metalloproteinase-7 and phagocytes, is beneficial for initial resistance to macrolide-resistant pneumococci.
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PMID:Roxithromycin favorably modifies the initial phase of resistance against infection with macrolide-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae in a murine pneumonia model. 1735 44

Several members of the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) family function in various processes of innate immunity, particularly in controlling leukocyte influx. Epilysin (MMP-28) is expressed in numerous tissues and, in adult mice, it has the highest expression in lung, where it is detected in bronchial epithelial cells (Clara cells). Epilysin is also expressed by bone marrow-derived macrophages, but not by alveolar macrophages, suggesting that its expression by macrophages is dependent on localization and differentiation. To assess the role of this MMP, we generated epilysin-null (Mmp28(-/-)) mice. Although epilysin is constitutively expressed in normal tissues, Mmp28(-/-) mice have no overt phenotype. However, using a murine model of Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia, we found that Mmp28(-/-) mice had an early increase in macrophage recruitment into the lungs, as well as enhanced bacterial clearance and reduced pulmonary neutrophilia, which we predicted were due to accelerated macrophage influx. Macrophage depletion in WT and Mmp28(-/-) mice confirmed a role for macrophages in clearing P. aeruginosa and regulating neutrophil recruitment. Furthermore, we observed that macrophages derived from Mmp28(-/-) mice migrated faster than did wild-type cells to bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from P. aeruginosa-treated mice of either genotype. These observations indicate that epilysin functions as an intrinsic negative regulator of macrophage recruitment by retarding the chemotaxis of these cells.
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PMID:Epilysin (MMP-28) restrains early macrophage recruitment in Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia. 1926 66

The immunological explanation for the "hygiene hypothesis" has been proposed to be induction of T helper 1 (Th1) responses by microbial products. However, the protective results of hygiene hypothesis-linked microbial exposures are currently shown to be unlikely to result from a Th1-skewed response. Until now, effect of microbial exposure early in life on airway innate resistance remained unclear. We examined the role of early life exposure to microbes in airway innate resistance to a respiratory pathogen. Specific pathogen-free weanling mice were nasally exposed to the mixture of microbial extracts or PBS (control) every other day for 28 days and intratracheally infected with Streptococcus pneumoniae 10 days after the last exposure. Exposure to microbial extracts facilitated colonization of aerobic gram-positive bacteria, anaerobic microorganisms, and Lactobacillus in the airway, compared with control exposure. In pneumococcal pneumonia, the exposure prolonged mouse survival days by suppressing bacterial growth and by retarding pneumococcal blood invasion, despite significantly low levels of leukocyte recruitment in the lung. Enhancement of airway resistance was associated with a significant decrease in production of leukocyte chemokine (KC) and TNFalpha, and suppression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-9) expression/activation with enhancement of tissue inhibitor of MMP (TIMP-3) activation. The exposure increased production of IFN-gamma, IL-4, and monocyte chemoattractant-1 following infection. Furthermore, expression of Toll-like receptor 2, 4, and 9 was promoted by the exposure but no longer upregulated upon pneumococcal infection. Thus, we suggest that hygiene hypothesis is more important in regulating the PMN-dominant inflammatory response than in inducing a Th1-dominant response.
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PMID:Microbial exposure early in life regulates airway inflammation in mice after infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae with enhancement of local resistance. 1978 40


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