Phospholipase A2 (Pla2) is an enzyme that induces inflammation, making Pla2 activity an effective approach to reduce inflammation. Therefore, investigating natural compounds for this Pla2 inhibitory activity has important therapeutic potential. The objective of this study was to investigate the potential in bromelain-phytochemical complex inhibitors via a combination of in silico and in vitro m...

Phospholipase A2 (PLA2) and its end product, arachidonic acid, are thought to be important signaling components in insulin secretion from pancreatic beta-cells. Because there are multiple Ca2+ -dependent and independent PLA2 biochemical activities in beta-cells, we have used a combination of molecular and immunological techniques to identify the isoforms of Ca2+ -dependent PLA2 present in pancr...

Time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay was developed for the detection of synovial-type phospholipase A2 (s-PLA2) in human serum. This solid-phase, sandwich assay uses a polyclonal rabbit antibody raised against synovial-type group II PLA2 produced in Escherichia coli. No cross-reactions were detected between s-PLA2 and PLA2 from human or porcine pancreas, human ascitic fluid, or bee or cobra venom. I...

We have previously demonstrated phospholipase C (PLC) independent activation of phospholipase A2(PLA2) by epidermal growth factor (EGF) in glomerular mesangial cells in culture. In the current study using glass beads to permeabilize [3H]- or [14C]-arachidonate labelled mesangial cells we demonstrate that guanine nucleotides modulate the EGF-mediated stimulation of arachidonic acid release (75% ...

Increased activity of phospholipase A2 (PLA2) in the ileal mucosa may contribute to the inflammation in Crohn's disease. The results of this study showed that (a) three months after ileocolonic resection for Crohn's disease the neoterminal ileal mucosa showed endoscopically new inflammation and had higher PLA2 activity than at the time of the operation (n = 8); no such findings were seen in con...

The overproduction of specialized metabolites requires plants to manage the inherent burdens, including the risk of self-intoxication. We present a control mechanism that stops the expression of phytoalexin biosynthetic enzymes by blocking the antecedent signal transduction cascade. Cultured cells of Eschscholzia californica (Papaveraceae) and Catharanthus roseus (Apocynaceae) overproduce benzo...

Brain phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activity has not been well characterized. Given the importance of this enzymatic activity for a variety of cellular functions in the brain, we characterized the subcellular distribution of PLA2 activity in gerbil brain and evaluated how PLA2 activity was altered by ischemia and reperfusion. Cytosolic, mitochondrial, and microsomal fractions were prepared by differe...

BACKGROUND To explore potential interrelationships between lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2), the metabolic syndrome (MetS), and incident cardiovascular disease (CVD). METHODS AND RESULTS MetS was defined by the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult treatment Panel III criteria in 4480 nondiabetic Malmö Diet and Cancer Study subjects without history of CVD. Incidence of...

The immunochemical protein content of group II phospholipase A2 (PLA2) and PLA2 enzymatic activity were measured for colonic mucosal biopsy samples obtained from patients with either Crohn's disease of the colon or ulcerative colitis, and control patients without inflammatory bowel disease. Immunoreactive group II PLA2 (IR-PLA2 II) content and PLA2 activity in actively inflamed colonic mucosa o...

Group II phospholipase A2 (PLA2) is a newly recognized antibacterial acute-phase protein. Recently we observed that transgenic mice expressing group II PLA2 (PLA2(+) mice) were able to resist experimental Staphylococcus aureus infection by killing the bacteria, as indicated by improved survival and by the small numbers of live bacteria in their tissues (V. J. O. Laine, D. S. Grass, and T. J. Ne...