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E W Howard

Publications and source records attributed to E W Howard.

32 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 is decreased and activated gelatinases are increased in chronic wounds.

The balance between matrix deposition and tissue turnover is fundamental in wound healing. It is likely that the balance between proteolytic enzymes and their inhibitors contributes to this balance. Matrix metalloproteinases are clearly important in tissue turnover, but their roles in wound healing are poorly understood. To investigate this, fluid from healing wounds resulting from mastectomies was collected from 1 h to 10 d post-surgery, and was analyzed for tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 concentrations. In all cases, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 levels were initially comparable to those in serum, but increased rapidly to significantly higher levels within two days, with a tenfold average increase for five patients. On the other hand, zymography revealed that gelatinase A (72 kDa) levels increased moderately, whereas gelatinase B levels (92 kDa) decreased an average of twofold within 4 d. In contrast, fluid from chronic wounds had significantly more gelatinolytic activity, including lower-molecular-weight proteinase species that may represent activated or superactivated gelatinase fragments, as suggested by immunoprecipitation with specific antibodies. Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 levels were lower in chronic than in healing wounds. These data may indicate that excess proteolysis in chronic wounds retards successful healing, and results from an imbalance of proteinase and inhibitors, as well as the presence of higher levels of activated metalloproteinases.

Chronic Disease↗
PubMed1993

Massive hepatic necrosis in toxemia of pregnancy.

Hepatic rupture and infarction associated with toxemia of pregnancy usually occur in multiparous women close to 30 years of age. The most important presenting symptom is right upper-quadrant abdominal pain. Sonography is the most expedient way of making the diagnosis of either rupture or hemorrhagic necrosis, but computed tomography is more sensitive. Elevated transaminase levels and thrombocytopenia or disseminated intravascular coagulation may occur acutely but resolve quickly. Termination of pregnancy is the cornerstone of any treatment plan. Many cases may not require operative treatment other than inspection. In others, surgical hemostasis will be lifesaving. We describe four preeclamptic women, two with ruptured subcapsular hematomas and two with hemorrhagic infarction. Radiological and laboratory evidence of liver damage and recovery are presented.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Secreted inhibitors of metalloproteinases (IMPs) that are distinct from TIMP.

The tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP, M(r) 30,000) is secreted by many cell and tissue types and has been shown to inhibit most secreted mammalian metalloproteinases. In matrix and tissue invasion assays, the inactivation or removal of TIMP enhances invasiveness. However, many of the cells that secrete TIMP also secrete other metalloproteinase inhibitors. By analysis of medium conditioned by various endothelial, mesenchymal, and neural cells on SDS-.substrate-polyacrylamide-inhibitor gels (reverse zymograms), we have detected at least three other distinct inhibitors of metalloproteinases (IMPs). Some or all of these IMPs have been detected in secretions of mouse, rabbit, sheep, and human cells and are all smaller in apparent molecular size than TIMP (IMP-1, M(r) 26,000; IMP-2, M(r) 21,000; IMP-3, M(r) 18,000). These IMPs are not proteolytic degradation products of TIMP nor do they represent nonglycosylated TIMP. The IMPs do not cross-react in the native or denatured state with any of several anti-TIMP antibodies. The IMPs appear to be regulated independently of each other and of TIMP. In vitro, the complex consisting of one of the IMPs, or TIMP, and a metalloproteinase can be dissociated into functional inhibitor and metalloproteinase. Whether this characteristic is significant in vivo is not known. IMP-2 has been purified from several sources and shares sequence homology with TIMP, suggesting that the IMPs and TIMP may constitute a gene family. The most significant characteristic of IMP-2 is that it appears to preferentially inhibit, on a mole:mole basis, the M(r) 68,000 gelatinase rather than collagenase or stromelysin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Binding of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 2 to two distinct sites on human 72-kDa gelatinase. Identification of a stabilization site.

We have identified a binding site for tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases 2 (TIMP-2) on human 72-kDa gelatinase that is distinct from the active site. 72-kDa progelatinase is found in a complex with TIMP-2 in the medium of cultured cells and can be activated with organomercurial compounds to yield a gelatinolytic proteinase that remains bound to TIMP-2. Removal of TIMP-2 from 72-kDa progelatinase by reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography, followed by reconstitution of the progelatinase in neutral pH buffer, results in autocatalytic activation. When samples of autoactivated gelatinase were blotted onto nitrocellulose, then probed with 125I-TIMP-2, we found a 29-kDa peptide that was capable of binding TIMP-2. We isolated this fragment and identified it as the region of gelatinase from amino acid 414 to the carboxyl terminus in the primary amino acid sequence of progelatinase. This portion of the molecule does not contain the putative zinc- or gelatin-binding sites and is proteolytically inactive. Incubation of 125I-TIMP-2 with 72-kDa progelatinase-TIMP-2 complexes resulted in a concentration-dependent exchange of labeled TIMP-2 with unlabeled TIMP-2, in both the presence and absence of the metalloproteinase inhibitor 1,10-phenanthroline. Saturation binding kinetics for the active site of 72-kDa gelatinase were measured in pools of the 43-kDa active fragment that results from the autoactivation of 72-kDa progelatinase; this fragment has no carboxyl-terminal TIMP-2 binding capability. Binding of 125I-TIMP-2 to the active site was completely inhibited by 1,10-phenanthroline. Binding kinetics for the putative stabilization site were determined with isolated 72-kDa progelatinase. In the presence of 1,10-phenanthroline, 72-kDa progelatinase bound 125I-TIMP-2 but not 125I-TIMP-1. Scatchard analysis yielded an approximate dissociation constant (Kd) of 0.72 nM for the active site and 0.42 nM for the stabilization site.

Autoradiography↗
PubMed1991

Preferential inhibition of 72- and 92-kDa gelatinases by tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-2.

Transformed human fibroblasts secrete two structurally and functionally related inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP) 1 and 2. In assays measuring the relative inhibitory capability of TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 against autoactivated 72-kDa gelatinase, which consists of two major active peptides and several inactive fragments, TIMP-2 was more effective than TIMP-1. The isolated 42.5-kDa active fragment that formed as a result of the autoactivation of 72-kDa gelatinase showed the greatest preference for TIMP-2; at half-maximal inhibition, TIMP-2 was greater than 10-fold more effective than TIMP-1. TIMP-2 was also greater than 2-fold more effective than TIMP-1 at inhibiting 72-kDa gelatinase-TIMP-2 complexes activated with 4-aminophenylmercuric acetate, and greater than 7-fold more effective than TIMP-1 at inhibiting 92-kDa gelatinase activated with 4-aminophenylmercuric acetate. Furthermore, these active gelatinases preferentially bound 125I-TIMP-2 when incubated with equal amounts of radiolabeled TIMP-1 and TIMP-2. The ratios of 125I-TIMP-2/125I-TIMP-1 binding to 92-kDa gelatinase, autoactivated 72-kDa gelatinase, and 42.5-kDa fragment were 4.4, 10, and 33, respectively. On the other hand, interstitial collagenase was inhibited by TIMP-1 greater than 2-fold more effectively than TIMP-2 in assays measuring cleavage of loose collagen fibrils.

Cell Line↗
PubMed1991

Regulation of the autoactivation of human 72-kDa progelatinase by tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-2.

To study the activation of human 72-kDa gelatinase, and its relation to tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 2 (TIMP-2), we purified human 72-kDa progelatinase both as a complex with TIMP-2 and as a free proteinase. Activation of progelatinase-TIMP-2 complexes with 4-aminophenylmercuric acetate yielded gelatinolytically active enzyme migrating at 62 kDa. TIMP-2 remained bound to the active enzyme. Removal of TIMP-2 from progelatinase by reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography in the presence of trifluoroacetic acid, followed by complete dialysis in neutral pH buffer, resulted in multiple fragments. These fragments were formed as a result of the cleavage of 72-kDa progelatinase at several locations. Cleavage at the amino terminus was restricted to the removal of the propeptide, except in the case of degradation leading to inactive fragments. Two active species autocatalytically evolved upon removal of TIMP-2 from progelatinase. The 62 kDa-activated gelatinase lacked the amino-terminal propeptide, which is known to be removed upon treatment with 4-aminophenylmercuric acetate. In addition, an active 42.5-kDa fragment lacking both the propeptide and a portion of the carboxyl terminus was formed. This low-molecular-weight active form of 72-kDa progelatinase retained its ability to bind and degrade gelatin. Self-activation and degradation of 72-kDa progelatinase can be prevented by agents that inhibit metalloproteinases, including 1,10-phenanthroline. Evidence presented here suggests that TIMP-2 binds to a stabilization site that is independent of the active site. This stabilization site does not bind TIMP-1 (TIMP). Occupation of this site by TIMP-2 prevents autocatalytic activation and degradation but does not prevent gelatinolysis by the enzyme-inhibitor complex.

Ataxia Telangiectasia↗
PubMed1987

Characterization of the receptor for protease nexin-I:protease complexes on human fibroblasts.

Fibroblasts as well as several other cell types, secrete a number of protease inhibitors into their culture media. Among these inhibitors are the protease nexins, a class of proteins which covalently bind serine proteases, thereby inactivating their specific targets. Protease nexin-I, first discovered in human foreskin fibroblasts, binds thrombin, plasmin, and urokinase with high affinity, forming covalently linked complexes. Human fibroblasts bind complexes of protease nexin-I and its target protease via a cell-surface, high-affinity receptor. We have analyzed a number of characteristics of this receptor, and found them to be typical of class II receptors in general. At 4 degrees C binding of PN-I:protease complexes was competed by heparin. In addition, binding was independent of the particular protease bound to the PN-I; purified complexes of PN-I with thrombin or urokinase competed equipotently for [125]I-thrombin:PN-I binding. As the pH of the binding buffer was lowered, binding to cells increased. A twofold increase in binding was attained by lowering the pH from 7.5 to 4.5. This phenomenon was not due to irreversible, pH-induced changes to either the cell surface or the labeled complexes. At 37 degrees C, the removal of labeled complexes from culture medium was rapid; approximately 80% was removed by 4 hours under given conditions. The internalization of complexes was also very rapid, with an estimated ke (endocytic rate constant) of 1.0 min-1. At neutral pH, fibroblasts bind complexes in a saturable manner. Scatchard analysis yields a receptor number of 250,000 per cell and a Kd of 1 nM.

Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor↗
PubMed1986

Biosynthesis of protease nexin-I.

Protease nexin-I (PN-I) is representative of a newly described class of serine protease inhibitors secreted by human fibroblasts, the protease nexins. Protease nexins form covalent complexes with their target proteases, subsequently binding to cells via specific receptors. PN-I preferentially binds thrombin, urokinase, trypsin, and plasmin, and its binding to thrombin is accelerated by heparin. We have previously described the production of a polyclonal antibody against PN-I which is able to block the binding of PN-I X proteinase complexes to cells and will immunoprecipitate metabolically labeled PN-I. Anti-PN-I was used to investigate the biosynthesis and regulation of PN-I in human fibroblasts. Unlabeled PN-I could compete for the binding of metabolically labeled PN-I to anti-PN-I, as shown by the elimination of the 43-kDa band representing PN-I on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis autoradiographs. Excision of this 43-kDa band from gels, followed by amino-terminal sequencing, showed a homogeneous protein that is homologous with that described by Scott et al. (Scott, R. W., Bergman, B. L., Bajpai, A., Hersh, R. T., Rodriguez, H., Jones, B. N., Barreda, C., Watts, S., and Baker, J. B. (1985) J. Biol. Chem. 260, 7029-7034). An analysis of the biosynthesis of the PN-I revealed that a lower Mr precursor exists intracellularly. This apparent rough endoplasmic reticulum form appears as a doublet on sodium dodecyl sulfate gels, as does mature PN-I. The PN-I precursor was also sensitive to endoglycosidase H, suggesting that it contains N-linked carbohydrates of the high mannose form. Mature PN-I is not sensitive to endoglycosidase H, but does contain 3 kDa of N-linked carbohydrate. PN-I appears to be constitutively secreted by fibroblasts. PN-I levels in conditioned media reach a steady state within 48 h, although PN-I synthesis maintains a constant rate. This steady state is due to the continuous uptake of PN-I from medium, presumably through a specific receptor.

Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor↗
PubMed1986

Human protease nexin-I. Further characterization using a highly specific polyclonal antibody.

We have used purified protease nexin-I (PN-I) from human fibroblasts to develop a polyclonal antibody that specifically blocks the PN-I-mediated cellular binding of thrombin and urokinase. Anti-PN-I IgG did not inhibit the binding of 125I-epidermal growth factor-binding protein to fibroblasts, which is mediated by protease nexin-II, another cell-secreted, serine protease inhibitor that is distinct from PN-I. This furthers the belief that the protease nexins are distinct from one another. In addition, while anti-PN-I IgG immunoprecipitated PN-I X thrombin complexes, it did not do so with antithrombin-III X thrombin. Metabolically labeled PN-I was also immunoprecipitated by IgG, indicating that the protein can be labeled in vivo. The antibody also recognized primarily one band on Western transfers of conditioned medium from fibroblast cultures. These results suggest that anti-PN-I will be useful in probing the physiological role of PN-I as well as its biosynthesis.

Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor↗
PubMed1975

Colon and rectal cancer in the young adult.

801 patients with colon and rectal cancer were studied to assess the behavior of this cancer in the patient under 40 years of age as contrasted to the more commonly seen older patient. The younger patient had a greater frequency of advanced signs, later stages of cancer and mucoid carcinoma. However, when compared by clinical staging, the younger patient did as well or better than his older counterpart. Clinical staging was the most important prognostic factor irrespective of age. No inherent difference was found in the virulence of the cancer in the young, as the five-year survival in the younger patient (31 percent) was essentially the same as in the older patient (32 percent).

Adenocarcinoma↗