title: Lipocytes from normal rat liver release a neutral metalloproteinase that degrades basement membrane (type IV) collagen.
abstract: We report a proteinase that degrades basement-membrane (type IV) collagen and is produced by the liver. Its cellular source is lipocytes (fat-storing or Ito cells). Lipocytes were isolated from normal rat liver and established in primary culture. The cells synthesize and secrete a neutral proteinase, which by gelatin-substrate gel electrophoresis and gel filtration chromatography, has a molecular mass of 65,000 D. The enzyme is secreted in latent form and is activated by p-aminophenylmercuric acetate but not by trypsin. Enzyme activity in the presence of EDTA is restored selectively by zinc and is unaffected by serine-protease inhibitors. In assays with radiolabeled soluble substrates, it degrades native type IV (basement membrane) collagen but not interstitial collagen types I or V and exhibits no activity against laminin or casein. At temperatures causing partial denaturation of soluble collagen in vitro, it rapidly degrades types I and V. Thus, it is both a type IV collagenase and gelatinase. The enzyme may play a role in initiating breakdown of the subendothelial matrix in the Disse space as well as augmenting the effects of collagenases that attack native interstitial collagen.
authors.affiliation: Liver Core Center, San Francisco General Hospital, California 94110.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Arthur
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Friedman
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Roll
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Bissell
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001485:Basement Membrane / Q000378:metabolism*; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism*; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D018093:Gelatinases; D007728:Kupffer Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D010434:Pepsin A / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013379:Substrate Specificity
chemical_list: D003094:Collagen; D010434:Pepsin A; D018093:Gelatinases; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases