Production, purification and characterisation of recombinant Fahsin, a novel antistasin-type proteinase inhibitor.

Serine proteinases from inflammatory cells, including polymorphonuclear neutrophils, are involved in various inflammatory disorders, like pulmonary emphysema and rheumatoid arthritis. Inhibitors of these serine proteinases are potential drug candidates for the treatment of these disorders, since they prevent the unrestricted proteolysis. This study describes a novel specific antistasin-type inhibitor of neutrophil serine proteinases, we called Fahsin.

1,3-Dimethyllumazine derivatives from Limnatis nilotica.

Two previously unknown lumazine derivatives, 1 and 2, have been isolated from the parasitic freshwater leech Limnatis nilotica. The structures of the compounds have been elucidated by NMR and unambiguously corroborated by chemical synthesis.