Summary
Thein vitro effects of the proteolytic enzyme brinase on ascites tumour cells were studied histochemically. Dissociation of protein from phospholipid attachment in surface and cytoplasmic membranes was seen, accompanied by activation of lysosomes in the cytoplasm. These changes are similar to those found by other authors in ascites cells exposed to specific antibody and indicate that changes in membrane lipid function should be envisaged in assessing the effects of proteolytic treatment of cells. Lysosomal activation also resulted from exposure of the ascites cells to tragacanth, a metaphase-blocking polysaccharide.
Two patients with melanoma showed substantially increased lysosomal activity in their lymphocytes afterin vitro treatment with brinase.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Allison, A. C. and Mallucci, L. 1964. Lysosomes in dividing cells with special reference to lymphocytes. Lancet, ii, 1371.
Bergvist, R. 1968. Proteolytic enzymes ofAspergillus Oryzae (2). The properties of the enzymes. Acta chem. scand., 17, 1541.
Bitensky, L. 1973. Modifications to the gomori acid phosphatase technique for controlled-temperature frozen sections. Quart. J. Micr. Sci. 104, 193.
Bitensky, L. and Gahan, P. 1962. The reversible activation of lysosomes in normal cells. Biochem. J. 84, 13p.
Burger, M. M. 1969. A difference in the architecture of the surface membrane of normal and virally transfomed cells. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. 62, 994.
Burger, M. M. 1970. Proteolytic enzymes initiating cell division and escape from contact inhibition of growth. Nature, 227, 170.
Chapel, H. M. 1973. The effects of papain, trypsin and phospholipase A on rosette formation. Transplantation, 15, 320.
Chayen, J., Bitensky, L., Butcher, R. and Poulter, L. 1969. A guide to practical histochemostry. Oliver and Boyd. Edinburgh.
Dumonde, D. C., Bitensky, L., Cunningham, G. J. and Chayen, J. 1965. The effects of antibodies on celis. Immunol. 8, 25.
FitzGerald, D. E., Frisch, E. P. and Thornes, R. D. 1972. J. Irish Coll. Phys. and Surg., 1, 123.
Holland, P. D. J., Browne, O. and Thornes, R. D. 1975. The enhancing influence of proeolysis on E rosette forming lymphocytes (T cells) in vivo and in vitro. Brit. J. Cancer. 31, 164.
Lis, H. and Sharon, N. 1973. Biochemistry of plant lectins (phytchaemagglutinins). Ann. Rev. Biochem., 42, 541.
Mazzel, D., Novi, C. and Bazzi, C. 1966. Mitogenic action of papain. Lancet ii, 302.
Mehrishi, J. N. 1970. Cell surface charge increase by both tumour inhibitory and tumour growth promotory polyanions. Nature, 228, 364.
Resch, K., Gelfand, E. W., Hansen, K. and Ferber, E. 1972. Lymphocyte activation: rapid changes in phospholipid metabolism of plasma membranes during stimulation. Eur. J. Immunol., 2, 598.
Robbins, J. H. 1964. Tissue culture studies of the human lymphocyte. Science, 146, 48.
Roe, E. M. F., Smyth, H. and Flahavan, E. 1972. Action of tumour-inhibitory gum tragacanth on potassium permeability of ascites tumour cells and partial characterisation of the cytotoxic component. Cancer Res., 32, 2067.
Rubens, R. D. and Dulbecco, R. 1974. Augmentation of cytotoxic drug action by antibodies directed at the cell surface. Nature, 248, 81.
Sefton, B. M. and Rubin, H. 1970. Release from density dependent growth inhibition by promteolytic enzymes. Nature 227, 843.
Shearer, W. T., Philpott, G. W. and Parker, C. W. 1973. Stimulation of cells by antibody. Science, 182, 1357.
Smyth, H., Flahavan, E. and Thornes, R. D. 1971. The effects of protease 1 ofAspergillus Oryzae (Brinase) on membrane permeability and growth of Landschütz ascites cells. Int. J. Cancer, 7, 476.
Szego, C. M. and Seeler, B. J. 1973. Hormone-induced activation of target-specific lysosomes: acute translocation to the nucleus after administration of gonadal hormonesin vivo. J. Endocr., 56, 347.
Thornes, R. D., Deasy, P. E., Carroll, R., Reen, D. J. and MacDonell, J. D. 1972. The use of the proteolytic enzyme Brinase to produce autocytotoxicity in patients with acute leukaemia and its possible role in immunoherapy. Cancer Res., 32, 280.
Thornes, R. D., Smyth, H., Browne, O. and Holland, P. D. J. 1973. B.C.G. plus protease 1 in malignant melanoma. Lancet, i, 1386.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Smyth, H., Farrell, D., Thornes, R.D. et al. Histochemical effects of the proteolytic enzyme brinase on ascites tumour cells. IJMS 144, 312–318 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02939031
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02939031