BACKGROUND Exposure to the house dust mite Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (D.p.) increases the risk for developing allergic diseases in humans and their best friends, the dogs. Here, we explored whether this allergenic mite via its enzymes may impact the cutaneous extracellular matrix (ECM), which critically determines epithelial barrier integrity both structurally and functionally. METHODS T...

Penetration of the extracellular matrix (ECM) by tumor cells, an event which occurs at various stages of the metastatic process, involves tumor cell glycosidase mediated hydrolysis of proteoglycans (PG). Recently, we observed that human ovarian carcinoma cell lines (HOCC) derived from primary tumors, peritoneal effusions, and distant metastases possess a varying ability to degrade radiolabeled ...

From 1,2;3,4-di-O-isopropylidene-d-galactopyranose, a preliminary series of highly functionalized amino(hydroxymethyl)cyclopentanes was easily available. These amine-containing basic carbasugars featuring the d-galacto configuration are potent inhibitors of the GH20 β-d-hexosaminidases probed and may bear potential as regulators of N-acetyl-d-hexosaminidase activities in vivo.

Interstitial deletions of the long arm of chromosome 3 have, to our knowledge, been reported in only eleven patients; detailed genotype- phenotype correlations are not well established. Here we describe a case with interstitial deletion involving 3q25.33 region. Dysmorphic features and developmental delay lead to clinical genetic and enzyme assessment. Low alpha-hexosaminidase level is also not...

The synthesis and biological evaluation of a series of novel norlignans are described. Norlignans were evaluated for their inhibitory activity on the release of β-hexosaminidase, a marker of degranulation, from RBL-2H3 cells induced by the IgE-antigen complex. The results showed that norlignans 4c and 4e potently inhibited degranulation, with IC(50) values of 18.3 and 17.9 μM, respectively.

andhoff disease (GM2 gangliosidosis) is much less common than Tay-Sachs disease. Both are autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disorders (GM gangliosidoses). But Sandhoff disease is caused by mutations of the gene encoding the beta sub-unit of hexosaminidase, on chromosome 5. In Tay-Sachs disease, the mutation is in the alpha sub-unit on chromosome 15.1 Since both hexosaminidase A and hexosami...

Sub-microgram quantities of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) have been found to substantially reduce the intracellular catalytic activities of three representative lysosomal enzymes (namely, acid phosphatase, hexosaminidase, and beta-glucuronidase) in human monocyte-derived macrophages. This response was not associated with a concurrent increase in enzyme catalytic activity in the culture sup...

Penetration of the extracellular matrix (ECM) by tumor cells, an event which occurs at various stages of the metastatic process, involves tumor cell glycosidase mediated hydrolysis of proteoglycans (PG). Recently, we observed that human ovarian carcinoma cell lines (HOCC) derived from primary tumors, peritoneal effusions, and distant métastases possess a varying ability to degrade radiolabeled...