SPF-5506-A4, a new peptaibol inhibitor of amyloid beta-peptide formation produced by Trichoderma sp

A new peptaibol compound, SPF-5506-A4, was isolated from the fermentation broth of Trichoderma sp. SPF-5506. The chemical structure of the 14-residue peptide was determined by MS, NMR and amino acid sequence analyses. The absolute configuration of amino acid residues in the acid hydrolysate was determined by Marfey's method. The structure of SPF-5506-A4 was established as Ac-Aib-L-Asn-L-Ile-Aib-L-Pro-L-Ser-L-Ile-Aib-L-Pro-L-Leu-L-Leu-Aib-L-Pro-L-leucinol. The compound inhibited amyloid beta-peptide formation in primary guinea pig cerebral cortex neuron cell culture dose-dependently with an IC50 of 0.1 microg/ml. Cytotoxicity was not observed at concentrations of <3 microg/ml.     

A new method for simultaneous measurements of mast cell proteases in human vascular tissue

1. Human mast cells contain carboxypeptidase A, chymase and tryptase. In the present study, in order to analyse the mast cell proteases simultaneously, we investigated a method for the measurement of carboxypeptidase A, chymase and tryptase in human vascular tissues. 2. Human vascular tissues were homogenized in 10 mmol/L phosphate buffer containing 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0, 1.2, 1.4, 1.6 or 1.8 mol/L KCl and 0.1% non-idet P-40 and samples were then extracted. Because carboxypeptidase A and chymase convert angiotensin (Ang)I to Ang-(1-9) and AngII, respectively, the extracts were incubated with AngI in the presence of an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor. The extract prepared in buffer with over 0.8 mol/L KCl converted AngI to Ang-(1-9) and AngII. Formation of Ang-(1-9) and AngII plateaued in extracts with 1.0 and 1.2 mol/L KCl, respectively. 3. The formation of Ang-(1-9) and AngII in the extract with 1.2 mol/L KCl was inhibited by inhibitors of carboxypeptidase A and chymase, respectively, suggesting that Ang-(1-9) and AngII were generated from AngI by carboxypeptidase A and chymase, respectively. 4. Using a specific tryptase substrate, tryptase activity was detected in extract in buffer with over 0.8 mol/L KCl and reached a plateau at concentrations of KCl over 1.0 mol/L. 5. These findings show that the maximum activity of carboxypeptidase A, chymase and tryptase was detected in extracts of human homogenized vascular tissues in buffer at 1.2 mol/L KCl. The present study demonstrates a new method for the simultaneous measurement of proteases derived from mast cells in humans.     

Stimulation of mucin secretion from human bronchial epithelial cells by mast cell chymase

AIM: To investigate the effect of chymase on the mucin secretion from human bronchial epithelial cells. METHODS:Primarily-cultured human bronchial epithelial (PCHBE) cells and normal human bronchial epithelial (NI-IBE) cell swere cultured with chymase or other stimulus in a mixture of bronchial epithelial growth medium (BEGM) and Dulbecco‘s modified Eagle‘s medium (DMEM), and the quantities of stimulatory mucin release were recorded.MUC5AC mucin was measured with an ELISA and dolichos biflorus agglutinin (DBA) mucin was determined with an enzyme linked DBA assay. RESULTS: A dose-dependent secretion of DBA mucin from PCHBE cells was observed with chymase with a maximum secretion of 98 % above baseline being achieved following 3 h incubation.The action of chymase started from 1 h, peaked at 3 h and dramatically decreased at 20 h following incubation.Chymase was able to also stimulate approximately 38 % increase in MUC5AC mucin release from PCHBE cells, and about 121% increase in DBA mucin release from NHBE cells. A chymase inhibitor soybean trypsin inhibitor (SBTI)was able to inhibit up to 85 % chymase induced mucin release, indicating that the enzymatic activity was essential for the actions of chymase on bronchial epithelial cells. CONCLUSION: Chymase is a potent stimulus of mucin secretion from human bronchial epithelial cells. It can contribute to mucus hypersecretion process in the patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or asthma.     

Recombinant human chymase produced by silkworm-baculovirus expression system: its application for a chymase detection kit

Human chymase is a mast cell-derived serine proteinase, which is a non-angiotensin converting enzyme angiotensin II-generating enzyme. It appears to participate in various diseases, but it is unclear whether chymase plays major roles in physiological and pathophysiological functions in vivo. To obtain information on the physiological and pathophysiological functions of chymase and to search for diseases in which chymase participates, in the present study, we aimed at producing recombinant human chymase in large quantities and at developing an ELISA system using anti-human chymase antibodies. A recombinant human chymase was produced by a silkworm-baculovirus expression system. The recombinant chymase in active form was efficiently purified from larval hemolymph using cation-exchange and heparin column chromatography. This recombinant enzyme was enzymatically identical with native human chymase. On the other hand, the stability of the recombinant enzyme in cultured medium for mammalian cells at 37 degrees C was very high as compared with the stability of the native enzyme; 20% of the activity was maintained 120 h after addition of medium. These results indicated that the recombinant enzyme could also utilize in vitro and in vivo assay systems. We obtained several anti-chymase monoclonal antibodies by using the recombinant human chymase as antigen. These antibodies were used to construct an ELISA system for measuring the chymase concentration in blood. As a result of preliminary examination using this ELISA system, it was shown that the chymase concentration in each serum from hypertensive patients is significantly higher than in normal serum. The ELISA system will be applicable for clinical diagnosis and in vivo evaluation systems for chymase-targeting drugs.     

Densitometry of aflatoxin thin-layer chromatograms performed by computer-assisted spectrofluorometry

A system consisting of an SPF-500 (Aminco) spectrofluorometer interfaced to a Felix-M18 microcomputer was used for the fluorescence densitometry analysis of aflatoxin fractions separated by silica gel thin-layer chromatography. The efficiency of fluorescence densiotmetry ultramicroanalysis was dependent on the type of aflatoxin (B1, B2, G1, G2 or M1) and on the nature of the contaminated sample.     

Discovery of potent, selective, orally active, nonpeptide inhibitors of human mast cell chymase

A series of beta-carboxamido-phosphon(in)ic acids (2) was identified as a new structural motif for obtaining potent inhibitors of human mast cell chymase. For example, 1-naphthyl derivative 5f had an IC50 value of 29 nM and (E)-styryl derivative 6g had an IC50 value of 3.5 nM. An X-ray structure for 5f.chymase revealed key interactions within the enzyme active site. Compound 5f was selective for inhibiting chymase versus eight serine proteases. Compound 6h was orally bioavailable in rats (F=39%), and orally efficacious in a hamster model of inflammation.     

The effect of serine esterase inhibitors on ionophore-induced histamine release from human pulmonary mast cells

The serine proteases tryptase and chymase are present in human pulmonary mast cells. About 10-100 times more tryptase than chymase is found in these cells. However, a clear physiological role for both enzymes remains to be elucidated; angiotensin processing has been proposed as one possible function of chymase. A dose-dependent inhibition of A23187-induced histamine release from dispersed human lung mast cells was observed after pretreatment with the serine protease inhibitor diisopropylfluorophosphate (DFP) or the chymotrypsin-like enzyme inhibitor N-tosyl-L-phenylalanine chloromethylketone (TPCK) but not with the trypsin-like enzyme inhibitor N-tosyl-L-lysine chloromethylketone (TLCK). These results indicate that a chymase is probably an important factor in a late phase of human lung mast cell activation.     

Inhibition of human chymase by suramin

Chymase is a chymotrypsin-like protease localized in mast cells in complexes with heparin. In the present study, we demonstrated that suramin, a hexasulfonated naphthylurea used as an anti-cancer drug, inhibits the activity of purified human chymase in vitro. The inhibition was ionic-strength-dependent. It was observed that suramin competed with heparin-Sepharose gel for binding to chymase and the inhibition of chymase activity by suramin was partially impaired by heparin. Our results show that suramin may become a prototype of a new type of chymase inhibitor because of its unique character.     

Characterization of recombinant human chymase expressed in Escherichia coli

We compared recombinant human chymase expressed in Escherichia coli with human chymase purified from vascular tissues. The recombinant chymase, the structure of which was NH2-enterokinase cleavage site-chymase-COOH, was expressed in Escherichia coli and then was solubilized and renatured. The protein did not have a chymase activity, but gained this activity after the cleavage of the N-terminal site by enterokinase. The enzyme was purified by heparin affinity and gel filtration columns. The N-terminal sequence of the protein was identical to the sequence for human chymase. The molecular weights of the recombinant chymase and chymase purified from human vascular tissues were 26 and 30 kDa, respectively, and the 4 kDa difference was thought to be due to the presence or absence of glycan. The optimum pH of the recombinant enzyme activity was between 7.5 and 9.0. The activity of the recombinant enzyme was inhibited by chymostatin, soybean trypsin inhibitor and phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, but not by ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and aprotinin. This enzyme cleaved specifically the Phe8-His9 bond of angiotensin (Ang) I to form Ang II and that of big endothelin (ET)-1 to form ET-1-(1-31). These findings demonstrated that the enzymatic characteristics of the recombinant enzyme were identical to that of native human chymase.     

Chymase mediates paraquat-induced collagen production in human lung fibroblasts

Survivors of paraquat poisoning may be left with pulmonary fibrosis and a restrictive type of pulmonary dysfunction. Chymase converts angiotensin (Ang) I to Ang II, which is closely involved with lung fibrosis. The role played by chymase in paraquat-induced lung fibrosis is unclear. We examined the effects of paraquat on chymase, renin–angiotensin system components, and collagen expression in murine and human lung fibroblasts (MRC-5). Lung chymase and collagen type I mRNA and protein expression were significantly increased and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) mRNA and protein expression were comparable between the control and paraquat-treated mice 1 and 3 weeks after administration. Paraquat significantly upregulated angiotensinogen mRNA expression in a dose-dependent manner while ACE activity and protein expression were similar in MRC-5 cells. Furthermore, paraquat enhanced Ang II and collagen type I mRNA and protein expression, α-smooth muscle actin, and chymase protein and chymase small interfering RNA inhibited these effects. The cDNA sequence of chymase in MRC-5 cells is identical to that in human mast cells. This study found increased chymase expression in paraquat-treated human lung fibroblasts and confirmed in vitro and in an in vivo paraquat model of lung fibrosis that chymase generates Ang II and enhances collagen expression. These data suggest a role for chymase in the pathogenesis of paraquat-induced lung fibrosis.     

Chymase-derived angiotensin II and arrhythmias after myocardial infarction

Mast cell-derived chymase seems to be important in the regulation of local angiotensin (A) II formation in cardiovascular tissues. In human heart, chymase accounts for 80% of A II formation. Therefore, the chymase-dependent A II pathway may play an important role in the pathogenesis of A II-related cardiovascular diseases. For example, cardiac chymase was activated earlier than ACE and this activation lasted longer than that of ACE after myocardial infarction (MI) in hamsters. Treatment with a specific chymase inhibitor treatment, but not an ACE inhibitor, improved post-MI survival as well as cardiac function and the extent of the beneficial effects was similar to that observed for an AT1-receptor antagonist treatment in this model. The survival benefit after MI seems to be related to an antiarrhythmic effect of the chymase inhibitor because chymase inhibition reduces the incidence of ventricular arrhythmias during periods of heart ischemia in a dog MI model. Thus, an antiarrhythmic effect of the chymase inhibitor may contribute to a reduction in mortality rate during the acute phase after MI.     

糜酶抑制剂对实验大鼠肺纤维化的干预作用

目的观察用糜酶抑制剂对博莱霉素致大鼠肺纤维化模型干预作用。方法健康SD大鼠60只随机均分为正常对照组(生理盐水)、博莱霉素模型组和干预组(博莱霉素+糜酶抑制剂)。分别在第7、14、21和28天处死。HE染色观察支气管肺组织病理改变,免疫组化观察肺组织中Ⅰ型、Ⅲ型胶原的表达。结果干预组肺泡炎程度明显轻于模型组和对照组(P<0.05)。干预组肺纤维化程度比模型组明显减轻(P<0.05)。与对照组比较,干预组和模型组肺组织中Ⅰ型、Ⅲ型胶原均表达持续增强,但干预组明显减少(P<0.05)。结论糜酶抑制剂能减轻博莱霉素诱导的大鼠肺纤维化,可能是通过下调Ⅰ型、Ⅲ型胶原的表达。     

Role of mast cell chymase in allergen-induced biphasic skin reaction

Intradermal injection of human chymase (EC 3.4.21.39) into the mouse ear elicited an edematous skin reaction in a biphasic manner, with a transient reaction peaking at 1 hr, followed by a delayed response persisting for at least 24 hr. The kinetics of this reaction was analogous to the biphasic skin reaction induced by ascaris extract in actively sensitized mice. A similarity between the two dermatitis models was also shown by histological analysis, i.e. accumulation of inflammatory cells was observed exclusively in the later phases of the skin reaction. A chymase inhibitor, SUN-C8077 [3-(3-aminophenylsulfonyl)-7-chloroquinazorine 2,4(1H, 3H)-dione], significantly inhibited both the early- and late-phase responses of the skin reaction induced by ascaris extract. These findings suggest that chymase may play an important role in the allergen-induced biphasic skin reaction. A histamine receptor antagonist, homochlorcyclizine, inhibited the early-phase but not the late-phase of the chymase-induced skin reaction. In addition, human chymase showed chemotactic activity to human polymorphonuclear leukocytes in vitro. Mast cell chymase may participate in the two phases of allergic skin inflammation by two distinct mechanisms, i.e. histamine- and leukocyte-dependent mechanisms, respectively.     

Synthesis, structure-activity relationships, and pharmacokinetic profiles of nonpeptidic difluoromethylene ketones as novel inhibitors of human chymase

Potent human chymase inhibitors with high enzymatic selectivity and satisfactory metabolic stability were obtained by replacing the Val-Pro (P3-P2) dipeptide portion of the previously described inhibitor 1 with a nonpeptidic pyrimidinone skeleton. The potency of the novel compounds was further enhanced by the introduction of carbamoyl-substituted difluoromethylene ketone moieties. The most potent chymase inhibitor of the newly created series was 2u (Y-40018), which had a K(i) of 2.62 nM. Compound 2u possessed high selectivity for human chymase since it lacked significant activity toward other representative human proteolytic enzymes. Moreover its strict specificity for human chymase suggested that 2u strongly inhibited human and canine chymases but not rat and mouse ones. Pharmacokinetic studies in rats and dogs indicated that 2u was absorbed rapidly after oral administration and had satisfactory bioavailability in these experimental animal species (rat, 17%; dog, 32%). In conclusion, 2u is a novel, potent, and orally active chymase inhibitor which would prove very useful in revealing the precise roles of the latter in various pathophysiological processes.     

Involvement of mast cell chymase in bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice

The possible role of mast cell chymase in organ fibrosis was examined using a bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis model in mice. Intratracheal injection of bleomycin to mice significantly increased not only hydroxyproline content but also chymase activity in the lung. Administration of a chymase inhibitor SUN C8077 (7-chloro-3-(3-amynophenyl) quinazoline-2, 4-dione methanesulfonate) dose-dependently reversed the bleomycin-induced increase in hydroxyproline content as well as chymase activity in the lung. Human chymase digested latent transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) to form mature TGF-beta1 in vitro, which was inhibited by SUN C8077. Human chymase, on the other hand, failed to stimulate DNA synthesis of human lung fibroblasts CCD-8Lu and LL97A. Taken together, it is suggested that mast cell chymase might participate in the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis, and that the chymase-induced fibrosis might be mediated at least in part by TGF-beta1. Chymase inhibitor may be promising for treatment of pulmonary fibrosis in humans.     

蛋白酶抑制剂对人类肥大细胞类胰蛋白酶和类糜蛋白酶催化活性的调节(英文)

AIM: To investigate the actions of protease inhibitors on the enzymatic activities of tryptase and chymase in similarexperimental systems. METHODS: Human lung tryptase and human skin chymase were purified by a similarprocedure involving high salt extraction of tryptase, heparin agarose affinity chromatography, and S-200 Sephacrylgel filtration chromatography. Actions of protease inhibitors on tryptase and chymase activities were examined byenzyme assays. RESULTS: The specific activities of tryptase and chymase were 2.1 kU/g protein and 4.9 kU/g protein, respectively. Both preparations showed a single diffuse band on SDS-PAGE. Among non-native proteaseinhibitors, N-(1-hydroxy-2-naphthoyl)-L- arginyl-L-prolinamide hydrochloride (HNAP), leupeptin, antipain,benzamidine, and protamine inhibited more than 90 % enzymatic activity of tryptase, whereas soy bean trypsininhibitor (SBTI), Z-Ile-Glu-Pro-Phe-CO2Me (ZIGPPM) and chymostatin inhibited more than 95 % enzymaticactivity of chymase. Native protease inhibitors α-antitrypsin and secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI)inhibited more than 90 % enzymatic activity of chymase, but lactoferrin appeared to enhance chymase enzymaticactivity. All the 3 inhibitors had weak inhibitory actions on tryptase. CONCLUSION: The protease inhibitorstested had relatively good selectivity to either tryptase or chymase.     

类糜蛋白酶抑制剂对人结肠肥大细胞组胺释放的影响

目的　研究类糜蛋白酶抑制剂对人结肠肥大细胞释放组胺的影响。方法　用酶消化人结肠组织并分离细胞成份。激发过程在LP4试管中、37℃条件下完成。组胺水平用以玻璃纤维为基础的荧光方法测定。结果　类糜蛋白酶抑制剂ZIGPFM、TPCK和α1 抗胰蛋白酶无明显刺激人类结肠肥大细胞释放组胺的作用。 3种类糜蛋白酶抑制剂均可以剂量依赖性方式抑制抗IgE抗体诱导的组胺释放 ,最大浓度的ZIGPFM(1mmol·L-1)、TPCK(80mmol·L-1)和α1 抗胰蛋白酶(30mmol·L-1)可分别抑制 37%、2 6 %和 36 8%的组胺释放。在 37℃条件下同结肠细胞预培养 2 0min与无预培养相比 ,ZIGPFM和TPCK抑制抗IgE抗体诱导的组胺释放的作用略有增强。 3种类糜蛋白酶抑制剂均可以剂量依赖性方式抑制CI诱导的组胺释放 ,最大抑制范围在 2 3 6 %～ 35 %之间。在 37℃条件下同结肠细胞预培养 2 0min与无预培养相比 ,TPCK对CI诱导的组胺释放的抑制作用略有增强 ,但ZIGPFM则无此特点。结论　我们发现了类糜蛋白酶抑制剂可抑制人结肠肥大细胞IgE依赖性和非依赖性组胺释放 ,提示类糜蛋白酶抑制剂可能有抗炎症性肠病的作用 ,可研究开发     

Pathophysiological roles of chymase and effects of chymase inhibitor

Human chymase forms angiotenin (ANG) I to ANG II, whereas the roles of ANG II generated by chymase and the effects of chymase inhibitors have been unclear. On the other hand, rat chymase could not convert ANG I to ANG II. In isolated rat arteries, the ANG I-induced vascular contraction was completely suppressed by angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor only. However, 30% of ANG I-induced vascular contraction in isolated human arteries was suppressed by an ACE inhibitor, but the remainder was blocked by chymostatin. In hamster hypertensive models, ANG II formation by ACE, but not by chymase, in vascular tissues plays an important role in maintaining hypertension. ANG II formation also induces vascular remodeling such as neointima formation. After balloon injury of vessels in dog, chymase and ACE activities were significantly increased in the injured vessels. In this model, an ANG II receptor antagonist was effective in preventing neointimal formation after balloon injury of vessels in dog, but an ACE inhibitor was ineffective. In dog grafted veins, the activities of chymase and ACEmin the grafted vein were significantly increased 15- and 2-fold, respectively, compared with those in the symmetrical veins. The intimal area of the grafted vein was reduced by a chymase inhibitor. Therefore, chymase-dependent ANG II formation plays an important role in the proliferative response, and chymase inhibitors may appear useful for preventing vascular proliferation.     

Role of chymase in vascular diseases and the efficacy of chymase inhibitor

In vascular tissues, angiotensin II is cleaved from angiotensin I by chymase and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE). In the normal state, chymase is stored in mast cells and has no angiotensin II-forming activity, while chymase is activated immediately where mast cells have been activated by local stimuli. A clinical trial of an angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) for preventing restenosis after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty was successful, but that of an ACE inhibitor was not. After balloon injury in dog vessels, chymase activity was significantly increased in the injured artery, and a chymase inhibitor and an ARB were effective in preventing the vascular proliferation, but an ACE inhibitor was ineffective. In dog grafted veins, intimal area, chymase activity, and angiotensin II concentration were significantly increased after the operation, while they were significantly suppressed by a chymase inhibitor. However, the chymase inhibitor, unlike ACE inhibitor and ARB, did not affect blood pressure. These reports indicate that local angiotensin II production by chymase is involved only in the injured vessels. Therefore, a chymase inhibitor may be useful for preventing vascular disorders without affecting blood pressure.     

The inhibition of mast cell activation by neutrophil lactoferrin: uptake by mast cells and interaction with tryptase,chymase and cathepsin G

Inhibitors of mast cell tryptase and chymase can be effective as mast cell stabilising compounds. Lactoferrin has been reported to inhibit tryptase activity, but its actions on other serine proteases of mast cells and its potential to alter mast cell function are not known. We have examined the ability of lactoferrin to inhibit mast cell tryptase, chymase and cathepsin G, and investigated its potential to modulate the activation of human mast cells. Enzymatically dispersed cells from human skin, lung and tonsil were challenged with anti-IgE or calcium ionophore A23187, following incubation with recombinant human lactoferrin, and histamine release determined. IgE-dependent histamine release from skin mast cells was inhibited by up to 50% following incubation with lactoferrin (50 or 500 nM). Tonsil mast cells were also stabilised by lactoferrin, but not those from lung. Calcium ionophore A23187-induced histamine release was not altered by lactoferrin. A double-labelling immunocytochemical procedure revealed the presence of lactoferrin in 4-6% of mast cells, and this proportion increased to 40% following incubation with lactoferrin. Lactoferrin did not inhibit cleavage of synthetic substrates by tryptase and chymase directly, though it was able to diminish the ability of heparin to stabilise tryptase. Cathepsin G activity was inhibited by lactoferrin. The ability of lactoferrin to inhibit IgE-dependent activation of human mast cells and modulate protease activity suggests that the release of this neutrophil product may have a role in the downregulation of allergic inflammation.