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Biomedical subjects

C A Vater

Publications and source records attributed to C A Vater.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

Native cross-links in collagen fibrils induce resistance to human synovial collagenase.

A model system consisting of highly purified lysyl oxidase and reconstituted lathyritic chick bone collagen fibrils was used to study the effect of collagen cross-linking on collagen degradation by mammalian collagenase. The results indicate that synthesis of approx. 0.1 Schiff-base cross-link per collagen molecule results in a 2--3-fold resistance to human synovial collagenase when compared with un-cross-linked controls or samples incubated in the presence of beta-aminopropionitrile to inhibit cross-linking. These results confirm previous studies utilizing artificially cross-linked collagens, or collagens isolated as insoluble material after cross-linking in vivo, and suggest that increased resistance to collagenase may be one of the earliest effects of cross-linking in vivo. The extent of intermolecular cross-linking among collagen fibrils may provide a mechanism for regulating the rate of collagen catabolism relative to synthesis in normal and pathological conditions.

Aminopropionitrile

Inhibitor of human collagenase from cultures of human tendon.

A potent inhibitor of human collagenases, released from human tendon explants in culture, has been purified and partially characterized. The tendon inhibitor has an estimated molecular weight of 25,000. It is relatively heat-stable but undergoes loss of activity following exposure to trypsin. It inhibits trypsin-activated rheumatoid synovial collagenase as well as the enzyme obtained from polymorphonuclear leukocytes. No inhibition of collagenase from Clostridium histolyticum (clostridiopeptidase A, EC 3.4.24.3) was noted. This collagenase inhibitor may be a factor in the regulation of extracellular connective tissue catabolism.

Cells, Cultured

Collagenase production by rheumatoid synovial cells: morphological and immunohistochemical studies of the dendritic cell.

The dendritic cells of dissociated, adherent rheumatoid synovial cell cultures are recognised by their distinctive morphological features--compact cytoplasm around the nucleus and long, branched cytoplasmic extensions. Such cells usually composed approximately 10% of the total adherent cell population but could vary from as few as 2% to as many as 40% with different synovial specimens. Histological studies have shown the cells to contain many mitochondria and large, spherical cytoplasmic inclusions which often distort the dendritic extensions. Although lysosomes were observed, no evidence for phagocytic activity was obtained. Immunolocalisation studies by means of a monospecific antibody to human collagenase have shown that the dendritic cell attached to a collagenous substratum produces and releases this enzyme in vitro. In contrast collagenase was detected in only a few of the fibroblast- and macrophage-like cells, and it was always intracellular. It is proposed that the dendritic cell may have an important role in the pathophysiology of the rheumatoid joint, particularly with regard to collagenase-mediated cartilage destruction.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid

Binding of latent rheumatoid synovial collagenase to collagen fibrils.

Collagenase released from rheumatoid synovial cells in culture is in a latent form. Subsequently, it may be activated by limited proteolysis. This study was designed to determine whether latent enzyme could bind to collagen fibrils and await activation. The data showed that latent collagenase bound to fibrils equally well at 24 degrees C and 37 degrees C, but that this represented little more than half the binding achieved by active enzyme at temperatures lower than that at which fibrils can be degraded. Binding was not inhibited by the presence of alpha2 macroglobulin, the principal proteinase inhibitor of plasma which cannot complex with inactive or latent collagenase but readily complexes with active species of enzyme. The data support the hypotheses that inactive forms of collagenase accumulate in tissues by binding to substrate, and that activation by proteases such as plasmin initiates collagen breakdown.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid

Cellular control of collagen breakdown in rheumatoid arthritis.

Remodelling of connective tissue and its destruction in rheumatoid arthritis is related to collagenolysis. Study of collagenase released by rheumatoid synovial cels has indicated that the enzyme is released as latent form from adherent synovial cells in culture. As a latent enzyme it is protected from complexing with alpha2 macroglobulin, the principal proteinase inhibitor. Activation in vivo is very likely caused by proteases which destroy or complex with a portion of collagenase responsible for its latency. Recent data suggest that the latent collagenase is an enzyme-inhibitor complex and not a true zymogen.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid

Activation in vitro of rheumatoid synovial collagenase from cell cultures.

Rheumatoid synovial cells dissociated from matrix and adherent to culture dishes released a latent form of collagenase into culture medium. Previous studies have shown that the latent enzyme does not complex with alpha2-macroglobulin and binds to fibrillar substrate. We now show that serum-free culture medium of the synovial cells contains an inhibitor of collagenase as well as latent enzyme; the two were separated on a column of acrylamide/agarose. Latent collagenase (estimated mol wt 45,000-49,000) was transformed by trypsin to active collagenase of approximately equal to mol wt 33,000. When mixed with inhibitor the active enzyme formed an inactive complex again with approximately equal to mol wt 45,000-49,000. The inhibitor(s) itself was found in one major peak of mol wt 33,000-35,000 and several minor peaks eluting with lower apparent molecular weight. Mersalyl, an organic mercurial compound, effectively activated latent collagenase producing an active enzyme with approximately equal to mol wt 33,000. Bacterial collagenase did not activate latent enzyme. We suggest that latent rheumatoid synovial collagenase, as it is harvested from synovial cells in culture, is an enzyme-inhibitor complex.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid

Endogenous activation of latent collagenase by rheumatoid synovial cells. Evidence for a role of plasminogen activator.

To elucidate the mechanism of synovial damage in rheumatoid arthritis, we studied the activation of latent collagenases released from adherent rheumatoid synovial cells in culture. Latent enzyme was not complexed with alpha2 macroglobulin, the prinicpal proteinase inhibitor in serum, and could be activated by trypsin in the presence of alpha2 macroglobulin if sufficient proteinase was added to saturate inhibitor. Latent collagenase bound half as effectively to collagen fibrils as active enzyme. Plasmin was a threefold better activator of latent enzyme than trypsin and could be generated by addition of plasminogen to synovial-cell cultures. Production of both collagenase and plasminogen activator was inhibited by dexamethasone (10(-9) M). These studies emphasize in importance of control of activation in regulation collagenase activity, It is likely that rheumatoid synovium produces both latent collagenase and plasminogen activator; plasmin is activated from its zymogen, plasminogen, present in inflamed tissues, and in turn activates collagenase.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid