Detection of a soluble form of BACE-1 in human cerebrospinal fluid by a sensitive activity assay

Background: Formation of deposits of the insoluble amyloid β-peptide is believed to be causally related with neurodegeneration in Alzheimer disease (AD). The β-peptide originates from a larger amyloid precursor protein (APP) by the action of proteolytic enzymes. The first proteolytic event leading to amyloid formation is the cleavage of APP by...

Cartilage degradation and invasion by rheumatoid synovial fibroblasts is inhibited by gene transfer of TIMP-1 and TIMP-3

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are believed to be pivotal enzymes in the invasion of articular cartilage by synovial tissue in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Here, we investigated the effects of gene transfer of tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) on the invasiveness of RA synovial fibroblasts (RASF) in vitro and in vivo. Adenoviral...

Gene transfer of the urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor-targeted matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor TIMP-1.ATF suppresses neointima formation more efficiently than tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1

Proteases of the plasminogen activator (PA) and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) system play an important role in smooth muscle cell (SMC) migration and neointima formation after vascular injury. Inhibition of either PAs or MMPs has previously been shown to result in decreased neointima formation in vivo. To inhibit both protease systems...

Cartilage invasion by rheumatoid synovial fibroblasts in vivo is inhibited by gene transfer of a cell surface-targeted plasmin inhibitor: Abstract

Cartilage degradation and invasion by rheumatoid synovial fibroblasts is inhibited by gene transfer of a cell surface-targeted plasmin inhibitor

Afbraak van kraakbeenmatrix door rheumatoïde synoviocyten wordt geremd door een membraan gebonden plasmine remmer via gentherapie

Degradation of a cartilage-like matrix by rheumatoid synovial fibroblasts is inhibited by gene transfer with a cell surface-targeted plasmin inhibitor: abstract

Isolation and storage of DNA for population studies

For genetic population studies, human genomic DNA is commonly isolated from peripheral blood. A fast, non-invasive DNA sampling method is developed involving oral samples taken with cotton swabs. In addition various procedures were compared for isolation of DNA from different sources: whole blood or buffy-coats stored at -20°C for 5-10 years or...

Usefulness and limitations of Actilyse® for standardisation of tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) assays in blood

Standardisation of t-PA antigen and activity assays requires a t-PA standard which ideally is a single preparation suitable for all assays. Most t-PA preparations, however, are not homogeneous; they can contain several forms of t-PA: single-chain and two-chain t-PA, and two glycoforms (I and II). In this study, the behaviour of Actilyse...

Circadian patterns of plasma t-PA and PAI-1 antigen levels in patients with severe peripheral atherosclerosis

Raised plasma PAI-1 and t-PA antigen levels are known risk factors for acute coronary events. It is not known whether these factors are related to coronary thrombosis or to a possible atherosclerotic background. Both factors show a marked circadian variation in blood. To assess the effect of atherosclerosis on the fibrinolytic balance, we...

An improved method for the detection of α2-antiplasmin activity on the automated coagulation analyzer MLA Electra 1000C

Comparison of the results for α2-antiplasmin activity of plasma samples (n = 61, range 0-125%) obtained by the 'immediate plasmin inhibition test' (IPIT) and by the automated method for the MLA Electra 1000C of Dade® shows a good correlation (R = 0.935) but a systematic disagreement especially relevant in the range below 40%. An improved method...

Evaluation of the specificity of antigen assays for plasminogen activator inhibitor 1: Comparison of two new commercial kits

t-PA depleted citrated plasma was used to prepare standards of different molecular forms of plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1). These standards were used to evaluate the specificity of two new PAI-1 antigen assays: the TintElize PAI-1 antigen assay (cat. no. 210221) and the Innotest PAI-1. Differences in specificity were apparent: the...