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H Fritz

Publications and source records attributed to H Fritz.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Primary structure of a Kunitz-type trypsin inhibitor from Enterolobium contortisiliquum seeds.

A trypsin inhibitor was isolated from Enterolobium contortisiliquum seeds. Starting with a saline extract, ECTI (E. contortisiliquum trypsin inhibitor) was purified as a homogeneous protein by acetone precipitation, ion-exchange chromatography (DEAE-Sephadex A-50), gel filtration (Sephadex G-75 and Superose 12) and reversed phase HPLC (mu-Bondapak C-18). The amino acid sequence was determined by automatic degradation and by DABITC/PITC microsequence analysis of the reduced and carboxymethylated protein and also of purified peptides derived from the protein by cleavage with iodosobenzoic acid and by enzymic digestion with trypsin, chymotrypsin and Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease. ECTI contains 174 amino acid residues in two polypeptide chains, an alpha-chain consisting of 134 residues and a beta-chain made up of 40 residues. The inhibitor displays a high degree of sequence identity with other Kunitz-type proteinase inhibitors isolated from the Mimosoideae subfamily. The reactive site was identified (by homology) as the arginine-isoleucine peptide bond at position 64-65. ECTI inhibits trypsin and chymotrypsin in the stoichiometric ratio of 1:1 and also Factor XIIa, plasma kallikrein and plasmin, but not thrombin and Factor Xa.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1996

Effect of combined B1 and B2 kinin receptor blockade in porcine endotoxin shock.

In order to investigate the contribution of kinin receptor antagonism in the treatment of LPS-induced shock we conducted a randomized study with anaesthetized piglets. Before randomization the animals were stratified according to predetermined health criteria under baseline conditions. One group of control animals received LPS from S. abortus equi (2 micrograms/kg/h i.v. for 8 h) and saline (Group 1). Another group received LPS and the B2 antagonist CP-0127 (3 micrograms/kg/min), beginning 1 h after LPS (Group 2). Group 3 received LPS and the B2 antagonist in the aforementioned doses, and the B1 antagonist Leu9-des-Arg10-kallidin (3 micrograms/kg/min), also beginning 1 h after LPS. Overall survival figures after 8 h of LPS infusion were: Group 1, 10/22 (45%); Group 2, 10/17 (59%); Group 3, 10/28 (36%). Fifty percent (29/58) of animals that were healthy at baseline survived, but only 11% (1/9) of sick animals survived (Log Rank p = 0.0001). In the subset of healthy animals, survival rates for Groups 2 and 3 were 77% and 38%, respectively (p = 0.0519). It appears, therefore, that B2 blockade attenuates LPS-induced mortality whereas additional B1 blockade seems to reverse these beneficial effects. This suggests that in this animal model the B1 receptor does not serve the same purpose as the B2 receptor, and that up-regulation of B1 receptors during LPS shock may be an important mechanism of host defence.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Plant serine proteinase inhibitors. Structure and biochemical applications on plasma kallikrein and related enzymes.

The action of two Bowman-Birk and several plant Kunitz-type inhibitors were studied on trypsin, chymotrypsin, plasma kallikrein and factor XII. The primary structure of some of them was completely defined. The results showed that the Bowman-Birk type inhibitors, although potent inhibitors for trypsin (Ki in the range of 1-2 nM), are not able to inhibit plasma kallikrein. Factor XII (Ki = 1.4 microM) and chymotrypsin (Ki = 5.0 nM) are inhibited by Torresea cearensis trypsin inhibitor (TcTI) but not by Dioclea glabra trypsin inhibitor (DgTI). Both inhibitors reactive site regions are highly homologous, and the amino acid residues in P1 position are the same, Lys and His; major differences are in the charge of the C-terminal portion of the molecules. The studied Kunitz-type inhibitors were all able to inhibit plasma kallikrein (Ki between 4 and 80 nM), with the exception of Schizolobium parahyba chymotrypsin inhibitor (SpCI), that is specific for chymotrypsin. All Kunitz-type inhibitors inactivate chymotrypsin, but with a dissociation constant in the range of 0.1 to 0.6 microM. Factor XIIf is inhibited with Ki in the range of 0.1 microM. Bauhinia bauhinioides trypsin inhibitor (BbTI) did not promote factor XIIf inhibition. The Kunitz-type inhibitors are a highly homologous, sharing 60% identity in the N-terminal portion of the loop containing the reactive site, and 28.6% identity in the C-terminal portion of the same loop.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1996

Expression and cellular localization of kininogens in the human kidney.

Human high (H) and low (L) molecular weight kininogens are encoded by distinct mRNAs derived by alternative splicing from a single kininogen gene. Previous studies have demonstrated the presence of L-kininogen but not of H-kininogen in the distal nephron structures of the kidney. Using the highly sensitive reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) we have been able to demonstrate the expression of both H-kininogen mRNA and L-kininogen mRNA in kidney and liver. The presence of H- and L-kininogen antigen was shown immunohistochemically by applying specific antibodies that discriminate between the two types of kininogens. Immunoreactive kininogens were localized in the cortical and medullary collecting ducts. Our results indicate that both types of kinin-bearing kallikrein substrates are expressed in the human kidney where they might contribute to the suggested roles of the kallikrein-kinin system in the regulation of renal blood flow and electrolyte excretion.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Functional display and expression of chicken cystatin using a phagemid system.

A recombinant phage antibody system has been used to display functionally active chicken cystatin, a small protein-type inhibitor of papain-like cysteine proteinases. A synthetic gene, AEF-[S1M, M29I, M89L] chicken cystatin, was ligated into phagemid pCANTAB 5E, cloned, sequenced and displayed on the tips of filamentous phage as a fusion protein with protein III (gpIII). The gene was expressed also as soluble inhibitor in a non-suppressor E.coli strain. Recombinant phages were selected by binding to carboxymethylated-papain. The positive phages showed binding to papain in dose dependent manner. The chicken cystatin-gpIII fusion protein was detected with anti-chicken cystatin antibody and with anti-protein III antibody by western blot analysis. Unfused soluble inhibitor was identified in the periplasma and showed strong papain inhibitory activity. The results demonstrate that functionally active cystatin can be displayed on the phage surface. This technology can be employed further to select inhibitor variants which differ in their binding affinity to papain and papain-like enzymes.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Temporary inhibition of papain by hairpin loop mutants of chicken cystatin. Distorted binding of the loops results in cleavage of the Gly(9)-Ala10 bond.

Temporary inhibition of the cysteine proteinases papain and cathepsin L was observed with several hairpin loop mutants of recombinant chicken cystatin at enzyme concentrations above nanomolar. Kinetic modelling of inhibition data, gel electrophoresis and amino acid sequencing revealed that reappearance of papain activity is due to selective cleavage of the Gly(9)-Ala10 bond in the N-terminal binding area of the chicken cystatin variants, resulting in truncated inhibitors of lower affinity. Cleavage of the same bond by contaminating papaya proteinase IV was ruled out by previous purification of papain and suitable control experiments. According to the proposed kinetic model, cleavage occurs within the enzyme-inhibitor complex with first order rate constants ktemp of 2.3 x 10(-3) up to 5 x 10(-1) s-1. A similar ktemp/Km ratio was found for all mutants (0.7 x 10(6)-2.1 x 10(6) s-1.M-1); it is almost identical with the kcat/Km ratio of the peptide substrate Z-Phe-Arg-NHMec. These results suggest that distorted contacts of one of the hairpin loops affect binding of the N-terminal contact area in a way that covalent interaction of the Gly(9)-Ala10 bond with the active-site Cys residue of papain can occur and the bond is cleaved in a substrate-like manner.

Alanine↗
PubMed1995

Hairpin loop mutations of chicken cystatin have different effects on the inhibition of cathepsin B, cathepsin L and papain.

Five recombinant hairpin loop variants of chicken cystatin (delta V55, delta V55-S56, delta P103-L105, delta I102-Q107, loop2-KD2) were constructed by cassette mutagenesis, expressed in E. coli, purified to homogeneity, characterized by protein-chemical means and by their inhibitory properties. The variant forms, modified in two of the three postulated cysteine proteinase binding regions, were inhibitorily active. However, the equilibrium dissociation constants of the complexes between papain as well as human cathepsin B or L and the cystatin variants show a weaker affinity for all three enzymes compared with recombinant chicken cystatin. These results prove the contribution of both hairpin loops to complex formation with the three enzymes. Furthermore, the kinetic constants indicate discrete differences in the molecular mechanism of interaction between chicken cystatin and papain, cathepsin B, and cathepsin L. Inhibition of cathepsin L was much less affected than inhibition of papain or cathepsin B by the modifications achieved in the five variants. Remarkably, at high enzyme concentration (above 0.5 nM) inhibition of papain by these variants was 'temporary', that means, active papain was released from the enzyme-inhibitor complex within minutes to hours (compare [1]).

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Influence of recombinant human erythropoietin on hematological and hemostatic parameters with special reference to microhemolysis.

Twenty chronic hemodialysis patients with renal anemia (hematocrit < 25%) received recombinant human erythropoietin (40 IU/kg body weight 3 x weekly) intravenously after each dialysis. Prior to and at 4, 8 and 12 weeks after commencement of erythropoietin therapy, hematocrit together with hemostasis and microhemolysis parameters were determined. There were significant increases in hematocrit, platelet count and platelet retention, but a significant fall in the initial clearly prolonged bleeding time. Free plasma hemoglobin likewise increased. Conversely, lactate dehydrogenase, prothrombin time, fibrinogen, antithrombin III activity, protein C activity and protein S concentration were all unaltered. The positive effect on bleeding time and platelet retention is most probably caused by an increase in adenosine diphosphate due to the hematocrit-dependent rise in the blood shear stress via physiologic microhemolysis (raised free plasma hemoglobin).

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Production, inhibitory activity, folding and conformational analysis of an N-terminal and an internal deletion variant of chicken cystatin.

Two deletion variants of chicken cystatin were produced after cassette mutagenesis of the recombinant Arg-Glu-Phe-[Met1, Ile29, Leu89]-chicken egg white cystatin gene in Escherichia coli. The variant des-Ser1-Pro11-[Ala12, Glu13, Phe14, Met15, Ile29, Leu89]-chicken cystatin (N-del 2) and the variant Arg-Glu-Phe-[Met1, Ile29]-des-Cys71-Met89-chicken cystatin (del-helix II) were purified and characterized by inhibition kinetics, far-ultraviolet-CD and fluorescence spectroscopy, and their folding in guanidine hydrochloride (Gdn/HCl) was studied. The del-helix II variant, shortened by 19 amino acids, is a basic, stefin-like mini-cystatin with one disulfide bridge. Its inhibitory properties are identical to chicken cystatin and its stability against Gdn/HCl is similar. The folding of the del-helix II variant corresponds best to a single step process. In contrast to this, the reversible folding of natural and recombinant chicken cystatin is more complex when recorded by either tryptophan fluorescence or far-ultraviolet-CD. With increasing Gdn/HCl concentration, a stabilization of secondary-structural elements is initially observed, followed by unfolding with minor but distinct intermediate states. The N-del 2 variant has a neutral pI and shows folding behaviour very similar to natural and recombinant chicken cystatin. However its inhibition constants with papain, actinidin and cathepsin B and L are 1000-100,000-fold higher than those obtained with natural and recombinant chicken cystatin.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

On the carrying capacity for large ungulates of African savanna ecosystems.

The effect of pastoral management on the standing crop biomass of large ungulates, an index of carrying capacity, is analysed at a regional level by using data compiled from published sources covering east and south Africa. The effect of primary production is controlled for by using two environmental factors, rainfall and soil nutrient availability, and the effect of species richness of the ungulate community is evaluated. The results confirm the dominant effect of rainfall, and demonstrate that soil nutrient levels also strongly affect the biomass of large ungulate communities. For a given level of rainfall, on rich soils (high nutrient availability) the biomass of large ungulates is about 20 times as great as on poor soils with low nutrient availability. The model based on rainfall and soil nutrient classes accounts for 87% of the variance in large ungulate biomass. Pastoral and natural ecosystems do not differ significantly in large ungulate biomass; there is therefore currently no evidence that extensive pastoral management increases carrying capacity for large ungulates above the levels observed in natural communities. Species richness, a measure of biodiversity, had a significant but very small effect on the biomass-rainfall relation in the complete data set. When analysed by pastoral management, the effect of this factor was significant for the set of natural ecosystems only. Pastoral management and species richness may therefore have compensatory effects. These results suggest that the carrying capacity is limited at the community, rather than the species, level.

Africa↗
PubMed1994

Isolation and characterization of hirustasin, an antistasin-type serine-proteinase inhibitor from the medical leech Hirudo medicinalis.

Antistasin, a potent inhibitor of the blood coagulation factor Xa, is the prototype of a novel family of serine-proteinase inhibitors. We have now isolated, sequenced and characterized an antistasin-type inhibitor from the medical leech Hirudo medicinalis. Hirustasin (Hirudo antistasin) was purified to apparent homogeneity by cation-exchange and affinity chromatography. Amino acid sequencing of the 55 amino acid protein (M(r) 5866) revealed that hirustasin is the only antistasin-type protein known to consist of one domain only; 27% and 32% sequence identity was found to the first and second domains of antistasin, respectively, and a nearly exact conservation of the spacing of the ten cysteine residues. Hirustasin is the first inhibitor of tissue kallikrein identified in leeches, and is also a tight-binding inhibitor of trypsin, chymotrypsin and neutrophil cathepsin G. However, despite the high similarity to antistasin, particularly in the vicinity of the putative reactive-site peptide bond, hirustasin neither inhibits blood coagulation in vitro nor amidolytic activity of isolated factor Xa. Thus, structural elements other than the reactive site sequence significantly influence the specificity of antistasin-type proteinase inhibitors.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Local serum application: restoration of sufficient host defense in human peritonitis.

Intra-abdominal host defense in human peritonitis is hampered by a severe dysfunction of phagocytosis due to an almost complete breakdown of bacteria opsonization. This defect relates to some opsonin consumption, but mainly to proteolytic and oxidative opsonin destruction. To restore and protect intact opsonins we have developed a clinical approach of intra-operative peritoneal serum application. In a prospective, controlled, and randomized study of 30 patients with generalized peritonitis we have investigated the impact of this adjuvant therapy on biochemical parameters and clinical features. Serum application induced a rise in opsonin concentration and, even more pronounced, opsonin function (P < 0.01) of several hours' duration, leading to a distinct improvement of bacteria elimination. In addition, alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor (alpha 1-P)I levels were significantly increased after 1 h (P < 0.05) in the treatment group. The follow-up by APACHE II scoring indicated an improvement in the therapy group over the whole observation period of 14 days. Lethality in the therapy group was 33% compared to 53% in controls. These results indicate that the intra-operative restoration of physiologic intra-abdominal milieu can improve bacteria opsonization and elimination, thus contributing to a favourable clinical course in abdominal sepsis.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Dextran sulfate activates contact system and mediates arterial hypotension via B2 kinin receptors.

To define some of the mechanisms underlying dextran sulfate (DXS)-induced hypotension, we investigated the effects of either the plasma kallikrein inhibitor des-Pro2-[Arg15] aprotinin (BAY x 4620) or the specific bradykinin B2-receptor antagonist Hoe-140 on the hypotensive response to DXS. In the first study, anesthetized miniature pigs were given DXS alone, DXS plus BAY x 4620 in various doses, or saline. As expected, DXS alone produced a profound but transient systemic arterial hypotension with a concomitant reduction in kininogen. Circulating kinin levels, complement fragment des-Arg-C3a, and fibrin monomer were all increased. Treatment with BAY x 4620 produced a dose-dependent attenuation of these effects with complete blockade of the hypotension as well as the observed biochemical changes at the highest dose (360 mg). In a second study, two groups of pigs were given either DXS alone or DXS plus Hoe-140. DXS-induced hypotension was completely blocked by Hoe-140 pretreatment; however, kininogen was again depleted. We conclude, therefore, that DXS-induced hypotension is produced by activation of plasma kallikrein that results in the production of bradykinin and that liberation of bradykinin and its action on B2 receptors in the vasculature are both necessary and sufficient to produce the observed effects on circulatory pressure.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

The role of phagocyte proteinases and proteinase inhibitors in multiple organ failure.

Although numerous other inflammatory mediators are important, the following review of our research and that of other authors reveals a prominent role for the phagocyte proteinases, polymorphonuclear (PMN) elastase and cathepsin B, in the development of multiple organ failure. The release of these enzymes in relation to the severity of trauma- and/or infection-induced inflammation was clearly verified in a variety of clinical studies. The amounts of the extracellularly discharged phagocyte proteinases were highly predictive of forthcoming organ failure and ultimate patient outcome. Moreover, the consumption of important proteinase inhibitors (e.g., alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor, antithrombin III) and other plasma proteins (e.g., fibrinogen), which are highly susceptible to proteolytic degradation, coincided with the occurrence of proteolytic activity, especially that of PMN elastase. Therefore, the therapeutic use of specific PMN elastase and/or thrombin inhibitors should prevent multiple organ failure or at least reduce severe signs of inflammation.

Animals↗