title: Activation and damage of cultured airway epithelial cells by human elastase and cathepsin G.
abstract: Accumulation of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) and epithelium damage have often been described during airway inflammation. We studied the effects of two PMN-derived proteinases, namely elastase and cathepsin G, on guinea-pig tracheal epithelial cells in culture. Both proteinases activated tracheal epithelial cells in terms of prostaglandin (PG) E2 production. A concentration- and time-dependent effect was observed with 10 micrograms/ml and 6 h as the optimal conditions for both enzymes. Optical microscopic studies confirmed an effect on tracheal epithelial cells as intercellular gaps were observed upon incubation of the monolayers with proteinases. A small cytotoxic effect was observed after 1 h incubation but remained stable up to 6 h. This cytotoxic effect, more pronounced with elastase than with cathepsin G, was dissociated from PGE2 formation.
authors: Unité Associée IP/INSERM no. 285, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.
authors: M A
authors: MA
authors: Nahori
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Renesto
authors: B B
authors: BB
authors: Vargaftig
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Chignard
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D056649:Cathepsin G; D002403:Cathepsins / Q000633:toxicity*; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D004848:Epithelium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase / Q000633:toxicity*; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; D014132:Trachea / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002403:Cathepsins; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; C534094:CTSG protein, human; D056649:Cathepsin G; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase; D015232:Dinoprostone