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Cellular control of collagen breakdown in rheumatoid arthritis

  • Immunosuppression and Inflammation
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Abstract

Remodelling of connective tissue and its destruction in rheumatoid arthritis is related to collagenolysis. Study of collagenase released by rheumatoid synovial cells has indicated that the enzyme is released in latent form from adherent synovial cells in culture. As a latent enzyme it is protected from complexing with α2 macroglobulin, the principal proteinase inhibitor. Activation in vivo is very likely caused by proteases which destroy or complex with a portion of collagenase responsible for its latency. Recent data suggest that the latent collagenase is an enzyme-inhibitor complex and not a true zymogen.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA

    Edward D. Harris Jr., Carol A. Vater & Carlo L. Mainardi

  2. University of California, San Francisco, Cal., USA

    Zena Werb

Authors
  1. Edward D. Harris Jr.
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  2. Carol A. Vater
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  3. Carlo L. Mainardi
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  4. Zena Werb
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Harris, E.D., Vater, C.A., Mainardi, C.L. et al. Cellular control of collagen breakdown in rheumatoid arthritis. Agents and Actions 8, 36–42 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01972399

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01972399

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