Gelatinase and serine protease were found to contribute in concert to pathogenesis in a rabbit model of endophthalmitis. However, a mutant defective in the fsr regulator was observed to be more attenuated than a mutant rendered defective in the expression of gelatinase and serine protease as the result of a polar transposon insertion into the former. This increased attenuation suggests that the...

Quorum sensing is a cell-density-dependent regulatory system in gram-positive bacteria and is often regulated by cyclic peptides called "quormones," which function as extracellular communication signals. With an aim to discover an antipathogenic agent targeting quorum sensing in gram-positive bacteria, we screened 153 samples of fungal butanol extracts with the guidance of the inhibition of quo...

Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) is a novel 25-kD protein of human neutrophils, that is in part covalently complexed with neutrophil gelatinase. However, both NGAL and gelatinase exist mainly in forms not associated with each other. An explanation for this phenomenon might be that the unassociated proteins reside in different subcellular compartments. The aim of the present stu...

PURPOSE To determine the effects of exoproducts from the corneal pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa on corneal proteinases and proteins. METHODS Whole rabbit corneas were cultured in the presence or absence of broths conditioned with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, elastase, alkaline protease, and exotoxin A. Protein synthesis was assayed by adding 35S-methionine during the last 6 hours of culture. Case...

Recombinant collagen-binding domain (rCBD) comprising the three fibronectin type II-like modules of human gelatinase A was found to compete the zymogen form of this matrix metalloproteinase from the cell surface of normal human fibroblasts in culture. Upon concanavalin A treatment of cells, the induced cellular activation of gelatinase A was markedly elevated in the presence of the rCBD. Theref...

In this study, we addressed the question of whether human bronchial epithelial cells (HBECs) contribute to the regulation of 92-kDa gelatinase activity by secreting tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1. We investigated expression of 92-kDa gelatinase and TIMP-1 in response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and to the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1β and tumor necrosis factor (T...

Snakebite is a common problem especially in tropical areas all over the world includingIran. Echis carinatus as one of the most dangerous Iranian snakes is spreading in this countryexcluding central and northwest provinces. In this study gelatinase and fibrinogenolyticproperties as two disintegrating matrix metalloproteinase enzymes were evaluated by a strongclear halo between 56-72 kDa in addi...

Glomerular hypertension has been established as a major factor contributing to glomerular scarring. Underlying cellular mechanisms leading to matrix accumulation are largely unknown. The isolated effect of oscillating hyperbaric pressure [OP; P(max) 50 mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa), P(mean) 24 mmHg, with a fixed oscillation of 60/min] on matrix-degrading protease secretion by rat mesangial cells (MCs...

The tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases 1–4 (TIMPs) have discrete regulatory roles in the activation of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 (gelatinase A), an important basement membrane-degrading MMP pivotal to tumor metastasis and angiogenesis. TIMP-2 binds to both the hemopexin C domain of progelatinase A and the active site of membrane type-1 (MT1) MMP. This trimeric complex presents the c...

Antibiotic dry-cow treatment contributes a major part to the total use of antibiotics in dairy herds. Enterococcus faecium strain SF68 (SF68) was of human origin but has been authorized in EU as probiotic feed additive. In the present study, one of the front and rear quarters of twelve late lactation Holstein-Friesian cows were infused once with a commercial antibiotic dry-cow formula (antibiot...