Interleukin-1β (IL-1β)-converting enzyme cleaves the IL-1β precursor to mature IL-1β, an
important mediator of inflammation. The identification of the enzyme as a unique cysteine …

Nitric oxide (NO) conveys a variety of messages between cells, including signals for
vasorelaxation, neurotransmission, and cytotoxicity. In some endothelial cells and neurons, a …

The adenylate cyclase system, which consists of a catalytic moiety and regulatory guanine
nucleotide-binding proteins, provides the effector mechanism for the intracellular actions of …

A central issue in nitric oxide (NO) research is to understand how NO can act in some
settings as a servoregulator and in others as a cytotoxin. To answer this, we have sought a …

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) is generated in several cell
types by treatment with lipopolysaccharides or cytokines. Earlier studies suggested that …

To examine the activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and aggrecanase in control and
diseased human articular cartilage, metabolic fragments of aggrecan were detected with …

IL-1 converting enzyme (ICE) specifically cleaves the human IL-1 beta precursor at two
sequence-related sites: Asp27-Gly28 (site 1) and Asp116-Ala117 (site 2). Cleavage at Asp116-…

C5a is a 74-amino acid glycoprotein generated on activation of the C system. The responses
evoked by C5a, both in vitro and in vivo, and its association with inflammatory diseases, …

A model of Gauchers disease was produced through the administration of conduritol B-expoxide.
Tissue levels of glucosylceramide were elevated in the experimental animals. The …

A rat chondrosarcoma cell line and primary bovine chondrocytes have been used to study
cell-mediated aggrecan catabolism. Addition of 1 μM retinoic acid to chondrosarcoma cultures …