Activation of progelatinase B in synovial fluids of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, with reference to stromelysin-1 and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-1.
OBJECTIVE
To clarify whether stromelysin-1 and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) are involved in the modulation of activation of progelatinase B in the synovial fluid of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).


METHODS
Gelatinases in the synovial fluid of patients with RA were analyzed by gelatin zymography. Concentrations of stromelysin-1 and TIMP-1 were measured using a specific sandwich enzyme linked immunosorbent assay.


RESULTS
Forty-three rheumatoid synovial fluids containing progelatinase B were examined to clarify whether the enzyme was activated by incubation. Incubation at 37 degrees C caused the conversion of progelatinase B to the active form in 22 of the 43 synovial fluids. The levels of both stromelysin-1 and TIMP-1 were determined for each group and the concentration ratio of stromelysin-1/TIMP-1 in the synovial fluids of each group was highly correlated to the activation of progelatinase B.


CONCLUSIONS
The balance between the concentrations of stromelysin-1 and of TIMP-1 in the synovial fluid appears to determine whether the progelatinase B molecule causes conversion into the active form.
Watanabe
Y
Y
Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Hokkaido College of Pharmacy, Japan.
Yamaguchi
R
R
IwakiEgawa
S
S
Shimamori
Y
Y
Fujimoto
Y
Y
Matsuno
H
H
D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000201:enzymology*; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D004792:Enzyme Precursors / Q000378:metabolism*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005780:Gelatin; D018093:Gelatinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D019278:Matrix Metalloproteinase 3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism*; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000201:enzymology*; D013696:Temperature; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D014316:Tritium
D004792:Enzyme Precursors; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1; D014316:Tritium; D005780:Gelatin; D003094:Collagen; D018093:Gelatinases; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases; C069860:progelatinase; D019278:Matrix Metalloproteinase 3