title: Collagenase and its natural inhibitors in relation to the rheumatoid joint.
abstract: This report attempts to summarize our present knowledge of rheumatoid synovial collagenase and its natural serum inhibitors, beta1-anticollagenase and alpha2-macroglobulin, in relation to cartilage collagen resorption in the rheumatoid joint. Immunolocalization of collagenase across the cartilage/pannus junction is described, and in the light of the finding of the specific, small molecular weight beta1-anticollagenase we propose a model of cartilage erosion based on the interaction between collagenase and its natural inhibitors.
mesh_terms: D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000201:enzymology*; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D003012:Microbial Collagenase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D008954:Models, Biological; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000494:pharmacology; D013696:Temperature; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin / Q000494:pharmacology; D000511:alpha-Macroglobulins / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D011509:Proteoglycans; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin; D000511:alpha-Macroglobulins; D003012:Microbial Collagenase