Expression of matrix metalloproteinases by human plasma cells and B lymphocytes.

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) are proteolytic enzymes that play a key role in tissue remodelling during physiological and pathological processes, by initiating the degradation of extracellular matrix. MMP overexpression can lead to tissue destruction which is characteristic of chronic inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and scleritis. Plasma cells are often abundant at such sites of chronic inflammation.

Expression of TNF-alpha by human plasma cells in chronic inflammation.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is a potent pro-inflammatory cytokine and mediator of the inflammatory response. It has been implicated in the pathogenesis of many inflammatory disorders, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA), septic shock, and Crohn's disease. Using a specific anti-human TNF-alpha antibody we detected immunoreactivity for this cytokine in the cytoplasm of inflammatory cells in several chronic inflammatory disorders, including RA, scleritis, and polyarteritis nodosa.

Increased expression of matrix metalloproteinases in vivo in scleritis tissue and in vitro in cultured human scleral fibroblasts.

Scleritis is a sight-threatening inflammatory disorder of the eye characterized by the degradation of scleral matrix. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are ubiquitous proteolytic enzymes important in physiological and pathological processes, the activity of which is stringently controlled by the action of a family of natural antagonists, the tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases (TIMPs). We hypothesized that enhanced expression of MMPs, without the negative regulatory influence of TIMPs, may be a key feature of tissue destruction in inflammatory eye diseases, such as scleritis.

Increased matrix metalloproteinases in the aqueous humor of patients and experimental animals with uveitis.

Purpose: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play a major role in connective tissue remodelling, wound healing and embryogenesis. They have also been implicated in pathological tissue degradation in diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), osteoarthritis (OA), and tumor invasion. The aim of this study was to define the potential role of MMPs in the inflammatory process of uveitis by identifying these proteases in the aqueous humor (AH) of patients with uveitis and in rabbits with endotoxin-induced uveitis (EIU).

Epidermal growth factor-like molecular species in normal bronchoalveolar lavage fluid.

Normal bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) contains mitogenic activity for fibroblasts and type 2 pneumocytes. A number of growth factors that might contribute to this activity have been identified in BALF. We found that a molecule or molecules able to bind to epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptors on mouse lung fibroblasts were present in normal mouse BALF and could be blocked by an antiserum to mouse EGF.

Stromelysin (matrix metalloproteinase-3) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP-1) mRNA expression in scleritis.

Scleritis is a severe and destructive inflammatory eye disease characterized by extensive extracellular matrix degradation. As in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), tissue destruction in scleritis may be mediated in part by matrix metalloproteinases such as collagenase (MMP-1) and stromelysin (MMP-3) which are normally kept in balance by endogenous inhibitors, such as tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP-1). To test this hypothesis, in situ hybridization was used to localize MMP-1, MMP-3 and TIMP-1 mRNA in diseased and normal scleral tissue using digoxigenin labelled probes.

Functional activity of plasma fibronectin in patients with diabetes mellitus.

Decreased wound healing and increased infection are major problems in patients with diabetes mellitus. Fibronectin plays a fundamental role in wound healing and acts as an opsonin for the phagocytosis of foreign antigens. The aim of this study was to ascertain the functional activity of plasma fibronectin from patients with diabetes mellitus.