Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UNIPROT:P20366 (substance P)
 21,176 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Neutral endopeptidase (NEP) 24.11 appears to be an important enzyme in both vertebrate and invertebrate autoimmunoregulation. Activation of human or invertebrate immunocytes that express NEP with substrates such as monokines and neuropeptides results in its increased expression, in other words, upregulation. However, since certain neuropeptides are also substrates for NEP, these activated immunocytes will respond to neuropeptides only at higher concentrations, thus downregulating the response. Specifically, in tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-treated immunocytes, we demonstrate the effects of increased NEP expression on altering the stimulatory activities of the neuropeptides met-enkephalin, melanocyte-stimulating hormone and substance P. We demonstrate the significance of NEP in modulating these responses through the use of specific enzyme inhibitors such as phosphoramidon, thiorphan and captopril. Furthermore, we present evidence suggesting that the individual variations seen in immunocytes from both different and the same donors to activating substances may reflect fluctuating levels of NEP expressed in response to endogenous stimuli. These results indicate that NEP is a highly significant factor in controlling the response(s) of certain immunocytes in man and higher invertebrates to the influence of biologically active substances such as monokines and neuropeptides.
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PMID:Autoimmunoregulation: differential modulation of CD10/neutral endopeptidase 24.11 by tumor necrosis factor and neuropeptides. 128 Nov 68

Studies in the rabbit retina have shown that infusion of exogenous acetylcholine (ACh) into the vitreal chamber leads to an increase in the amount of substance P (SP) immunoreactivity (Goebel and Pourcho, submitted). This increase was determined to be independent of new peptide synthesis, suggesting that the elevated level of SP is the result of ACh inhibition of an SP-degrading protease. This phenomenon has now been confirmed in vitro in both tissue slice and retinal homogenate assays. These studies have shown that ACh decreases the rate of SP hydrolysis in a concentration dependent manner. Recovery of SP hydrolytic activity following ACh inhibition was found to be directly proportional to the amount of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in the membrane fraction. Specific protease inhibitors were used to determine the relative contributions of membrane associated retinal enzymes to SP-hydrolysis. In the presence of 1 mM 1,10-phenanthroline or p-chloromercuribenzenesulfonic acid all SP-hydrolytic activity was abolished, indicating that the enzyme(s) responsible for the degradation of the peptide is a metallopeptidase. The ACh sensitive retinal enzyme was found to be concentrated in the membrane fraction where it accounts for approximately 70% of the SP hydrolytic activity. Although the precise identity of this enzyme remains to be determined, the present evidence indicates that it shares many of the characteristics of the enzyme substance P-degrading endopeptidase (Endo et al. 1988, 1989). Enkephalinase activity was also found, contributing to 28% of the hydrolytic activity in the membrane fraction. However, the activity of this enzyme was insensitive to elevated levels of ACh. After initial cleavage of SP by the primary hydrolytic enzymes, further degradation of the fragments appears to be carried out by membrane associated serine protease(s). The activity exhibited by this class of enzymes was inhibited by DFP treatment and was not sensitive to ACh. Although AChE does not make a major contribution to the hydrolysis of SP, it does participate in peptide degradation via its esterase activity which controls the level of ACh, thereby modulating the primary SP-hydrolytic enzyme.
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PMID:Hydrolysis of substance P in the rabbit retina: II. The role of a membrane-associated acetylcholine-sensitive metalloendopeptidase. An in vitro study. 137 Nov 83

The effect of ozone (3 ppm, 15-120 min) on bronchial reactivity in the guinea-pig was studied. Ozone induced marked (6-250-fold) bronchial hyperreactivity (BHR) to a range of inhaled, but not intravenous bronchoconstrictors. The degree of BHR was related to the duration of prior ozone exposure. The glutathione redox status was shifted to a more oxidized state in lung after 120 min ozone treatment, although no changes were found in the energy status of lung tissue, as judged by the concentrations of adenosine phosphates. Ascorbic acid pretreatment prevented BHR induced by 30 min ozone exposure. Neutral endopeptidase inhibitors elicited BHR to both substance P and histamine, but did not further enhance bronchoconstriction to substance P after ozone exposure for 120 min. Neither mepyramine, fentanyl, indomethacin nor a 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor (BW B70C), given prior to ozone exposure prevented the induction of BHR to histamine. Atropine or bilateral vagotomy reduced BHR after a 120-min, but not 30-min exposure to ozone. We conclude that in the guinea-pig, ozone induces non-specific, route-dependent BHR by oxidative injury, reducing airway NEP activity and enhancing the cholinergic and peptidergic component to bronchoconstriction. Neither cyclooxygenase nor 5-lipoxygenase products appear to play a role in ozone-induced BHR in this animal model.
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PMID:Mechanisms contributing to ozone-induced bronchial hyperreactivity in guinea-pigs. 137 22

To investigate the role of neuropeptides in allergic inflammation, we examined the effect of peptides on eosinophil chemotaxis. Eosinophils were purified from the blood of allergic and normal subjects using a discontinuous Percoll density gradients. Chemotaxis was induced by platelet-activating factor (PAF) and leukotriene B4, and was assayed by a modified Boyden's chamber technique. Four neuropeptides were examined in this study: substance P (SP), neurokinin A, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), and cholecystokinin octapeptide. Peptides alone (10 nM to 10 microM) were not chemotactic for eosinophils. However, when eosinophils were pre-treated with peptides (100 nM) at 37 degrees C for 30 min, chemotactic response to PAF (10 nM) was significantly enhanced (p < 0.01) in allergic subjects; % control by SP, neurokinin A, CGRP and cholecystokinin octapeptide was 269 +/- 42, 243 +/- 32, 227 +/- 21, and 251 +/- 42, respectively (n = 8). Similar results were obtained in leukotriene B4-induced eosinophil chemotaxis. In contrast, no enhancement was observed in normal subjects. Potentiating effect of SP and CGRP on PAF-induced eosinophil chemotaxis in allergic subjects was significantly attenuated by SP antagonist [D-Pro2,D-Trp7,9]-SP and human CGRP (8-37) receptor antagonist, respectively. Neutral endopeptidase inhibitors (phosphoramidon, leupeptin, and bestatin) failed to significantly augment the PAF-induced eosinophil chemotaxis when the cells were pretreated with various peptides and neutral endopeptidase inhibitors. The C-terminal fragment of SP (SP6-11) had an effect similar to that of the intact SP molecule, whereas no potentiating effect by the N-terminal of SP (SP1-9) was observed. These results suggest that neuropeptides may play a significant role in eosinophil infiltration by priming cells in allergic inflammation.
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PMID:Neuropeptides modulate human eosinophil chemotaxis. 138 21

Enkephalinase (EC 3.4.24.11) is a naturally occurring, membrane-bound peptidase that degrades substance P in vivo and in vitro. Addition of this neutral endopeptidase to a rabbit eye cup model partially inhibits substance P-induced contraction of the iris sphincter muscle. Inactivation of substance P is reversed by thiorphan, a specific inhibitor of enkephalinase. These results show that enkephalinase degradation of substance P produces metabolites that are physiologically inactive in iris contraction. We also observed that atropine acts synergistically with enkephalinase to completely abolish substance P-induced iris contraction suggesting that the action of substance P on the iris contains an acetylcholine-stimulatory effect which is not lost by enkephalinase treatment.
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PMID:Recombinant enkephalinase effectively inhibits substance P-induced miosis in the rabbit eye cup model. 169 72

Neutral endopeptidase (NEP; EC 3.4.24.11) is well recognized as a regulatory peptidase for substance P (SP)-induced responses in various tissues. To determine whether NEP regulates SP-induced activation of human neutrophils, we examined the effect of the NEP inhibitor phosphoramidon on SP-induced superoxide generation and chemotaxis in human blood neutrophils. SP (10(-6)-10(-4) M) induced superoxide generation and chemotaxis in the neutrophils dose dependently. The NEP inhibitor enhanced the SP-induced responses. Thus, phosphoramidon (10(-6) M) shifted the dose-response curves of SP-induced superoxide generation and chemotaxis of the neutrophils to the left by 0.5-0.6 log. Phosphoramidon prevented the hydrolysis of SP by the neutrophils, the NEP activity of the neutrophils being assessed as 125 +/- 13 pmol of SP/min/10(6) cells. The N-terminal peptide SP (up to 3 x 10(-4) M), which was a major degrading product by NEP of the neutrophils, did not activate the neutrophils. We conclude that NEP modulates SP-induced activation of human neutrophils.
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PMID:Neutral endopeptidase modulates substance P-induced activation of human neutrophils. 171 1

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and substance P (SP) are released from sensory nerves upon exposure to irritating stimuli. Neutral endopeptidase (NEP), a membrane-bound peptidase, cleaves many peptides including SP, thereby limiting their biological actions. Recombinant NEP cleaved CGRP1 approximately 88-fold less rapidly than it cleaved SP. The slow cleavage by NEP of CGRP compared to SP suggests that this enzyme is likely to have weaker physiologic effects on CGRP than have been demonstrated for SP.
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PMID:Catabolism of calcitonin gene-related peptide and substance P by neutral endopeptidase. 171 55

Membrane metalloendopeptidase (MMEP; EC 3.4.24.11; enkephalinase) catalyzes the degradation of endothelins, enkephalins, atrial natriuretic factor, substance P, and other small bioactive peptides. We found that MMEP is present in human endometrium, localized primarily in stromal cells of this tissue, and that the specific activity of MMEP (and immunoreactive MMEP protein) in endometrial tissue is correlated in a highly significant positive manner with the concentration of progesterone in plasma. In estrogen-treated, human endometrial stromal cells in monolayer culture, the specific activity of MMEP increases in response to treatment with progestin; and, this increase is accompanied by increases in immunoreactive MMEP protein, newly synthesized MMEP, and MMEP mRNA.
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PMID:Progesterone-regulated cyclic modulation of membrane metalloendopeptidase (enkephalinase) in human endometrium. 174

A noncholinergic, nonadrenergic nervous system has been described, involving the sensory nerves in the airways. Chemicals, dusts and other irritants stimulate these sensory nerves to release substance P and related neuropeptides. These neuropeptides have the remarkable ability to affect multiple cells in the airways and to provoke many responses including cough, mucus secretion, smooth muscle contraction, plasma extravasation and neutrophil adhesion. This series of effects is termed "neurogenic inflammation." An enzyme exists on the surfaces of all lung cells that contain receptors for these neuropeptides. This enzyme, neutral endopeptidase (NEP), by cleaving and thus inactivating the neuropeptides, limits the concentration of the neuropeptide that reaches the receptor on the cell surface. Thus, neurogenic inflammatory responses are normally mild and presumably protective in nature. However, when NEP is inhibited pharmacologically (with NEP inhibitors) or by cigarette smoke, respiratory viral infection, or by inhalation of the industrial pollutant toluene diisocyanate, neurogenic inflammatory responses are exaggerated. Delivery of exogenous human recombinant NEP inhibits neurogenic inflammation. Finally, evidence is provided that corticosteroids suppress neurogenic plasma extravasation and that this drug can upregulate NEP in human airway tissue. Neutral endopeptidase cleaves multiple peptides. Thus, its selectivity resides, at least in part, on its fixed location on the surfaces of specific cells where it can modulate effects of peptides exposed to the cells' surfaces.
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PMID:Neutral endopeptidase modulates neurogenic inflammation. 188 1

Neutral endopeptidase exists on the membranes of many cells in the airways. By cleaving and thus inactivating tachykinins released from sensory nerves, NEP limits the actions of these peptides. The selectivity of the enzyme is due, at least in part, to its close association with tachykinin receptors. By cleaving and inactivating the tachykinins, it limits the concentration of tachykinin that reaches the receptor. Decreased NEP activity produced by selective enzyme inhibitors, air pollutants, infections, and oxidants leads to exaggerated neurogenic inflammation. We speculate that the multiple stimuli that enter the airways of healthy individuals normally produce small, nonsymptomatic neurogenic inflammatory responses. However, when NEP activity is decreased, the responses become exaggerated and may contribute to the pathogenesis of diseases such as asthma and bronchitis.
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PMID:Decreased neutral endopeptidases: possible role in inflammatory diseases of airways. 216 84


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