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  • Title: Inhibition of cathepsin D-type proteinase of macrophages by pepstatin, a specific pepsin inhibitor, and other substances.
    Author: McAdoo MH, Dannenberg AM, Hayes CJ, James SP, Sanner JH.
    Journal: Infect Immun; 1973 Apr; 7(4):655-65. PubMed ID: 4586863.
    Abstract:
    The macrophage is the main cell participating in chronic inflammation. It contains an acid-acting, cathepsin D-type proteinase with the specificity of pepsin, which may release mediators of the inflammatory process. To find new pharmaceutical inhibitors of this proteinase, we tested a variety of chemical compounds in vitro. For this survey, the possible inhibitor (at a concentration of 0.4 mg/ml) was assayed with partially purified cathepsin D-type proteinase from beef lung (a macrophage-rich tissue) and hemoglobin as the substrate. Diazophenylbutanone, three acetophenones, two barbiturates, a gold salt, a copper chelate of a substituted nicotinic acid, a hexapeptide containing a d-amino acid, and Pepstatin inhibited this enzyme; over 200 other potential inhibitors did not. By far the most active and specific inhibitor found to date is Pepstatin, a pentapeptide with two gamma-NH linkages, two beta-OH groups, and five branched aliphatic side chains. Banyu Pharmaceutical Co., Tokyo, Japan, produces this nontoxic compound for the treatment of peptic ulcers. In vitro, as little as 4 ng of Pepstatin inhibits the acid-acting cathepsin D-type proteinase purified from beef and rabbit lung as well as the similar proteinase of rabbit peritoneal and pulmonary macrophages.
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