The world's first wiki where authorship really matters (Nature Genetics, 2008). Due credit and reputation for authors. Imagine a global collaborative knowledge base for original thoughts. Search thousands of articles and collaborate with scientists around the globe.

wikigene or wiki gene protein drug chemical gene disease author authorship tracking collaborative publishing evolutionary knowledge reputation system wiki2.0 global collaboration genes proteins drugs chemicals diseases compound
Hoffmann, R. A wiki for the life sciences where authorship matters. Nature Genetics (2008)
 
 
 

Peptidase activities in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from allergic asthmatics--comparison with healthy non-smokers and smokers and effects of inhaled glucocorticoids.

BACKGROUND: Neuropeptides may be involved in the pathogenesis of asthma by evoking neurogenic inflammation. Since the effects of neuropeptides are limited by peptidases, reduced activity of peptidases may contribute to the inflammatory process. OBJECTIVE: We hypothesized that soluble peptidase activities are decreased in asthmatics and that inhaled glucocorticoids exert part of their anti-inflammatory action by increasing soluble peptidase activities. METHODS: Serum and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid was obtained from non-smoking and smoking volunteers and from allergic asthmatics both before and after treatment for 12 weeks with placebo or inhaled fluticasone propionate. Activities of neutral endopeptidase (NEP), aminopeptidase N (APN) and dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP IV) were determined using colourometric assays. RESULTS: Reduced DPP IV activity in serum and reduced NEP activity in BAL fluid were found in healthy smokers compared with non-smokers. In contrast, no differences in peptidase activities in serum or BAL fluid were observed between allergic asthmatics and healthy non-smokers. Fluticasone propionate treatment did not affect peptidase activities in the asthmatic patients. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that reduced peptidase activities in serum or BAL fluid can be found in healthy smokers, but not in allergic asthmatics, and that inhaled glucocorticoids do not affect peptidase activities in BAL fluid or serum of asthmatics. Our results do not support the hypothesized dysfunction of peptidases in the asthmatic airways.[1]

References

  1. Peptidase activities in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from allergic asthmatics--comparison with healthy non-smokers and smokers and effects of inhaled glucocorticoids. Van Der Velden, V.H., Naber, B.A., Van Hal, P.T., Overbeek, S.E., Hoogsteden, H.C., Versnel, M.A. Clin. Exp. Allergy (1999) [Pubmed]
 
WikiGenes - Universities