Synthesis of collagenolytic enzymes and their inhibitors by gingival tissue in vitro

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Porcine gingival explants maintained in culture produced collagenase and non‐specific gelatinase. These enzymes were detected in both latent and active forms in explant culture medium. The latent enzymes could be activated by limited proteolysis with trypsin or by treatment with organomercurials (4‐hydroxy mercuribenzoate, PCMB and 4‐aminophenylmercuric acetate, APMA). The explants also produced protein capable of inhibiting the collagenase and non‐specific gelatinase activities. Treatment of inhibitor with trypsin or organomercurials under latent enzyme activation conditions blocked the inhibitory activity against both enzymes suggesting that the latent enzymes are enzyme‐inhibitor complexes. A specific gelatinase was also detected in the culture medium in an active form which was not inhibited by other macromolecules in the medium. The addition of endotoxin (30 μg/ml) to the gingival explant medium increased the synthesis of the collagenase and non‐specific gelatinase activities but had no apparent effect on the production of the inhibitor activity nor the specific gelatinase activity.