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. 1982 Dec 1;207(3):621–624. doi: 10.1042/bj2070621

Type-specific collagen degradation by eosinophils.

M S Hibbs, C L Mainardi, A H Kang
PMCID: PMC1153909  PMID: 7165715

Abstract

Despite the association of eosinophils with wound-healing and fibrotic processes, their collagenolytic ability has been poorly defined. By using highly purified eosinophil preparations (greater than 95% eosinophils) obtained from guinea-pigs by peritoneal lavage, we have examined type-specific collagen degradation by eosinophils using sensitive detection methods. The results show that eosinophils contain a metalloprotein that degrades types I and III collagens. This activity was apparent only after the addition of 4-aminophenylmercuric acetate to the reaction mixture, a finding similar to that for latent collagenases described from other sources. No collagenolytic activity against types IV and V collagens could be detected. Thus eosinophils may play a role in the alterations in connective-tissue matrices seen in physiological and pathological states.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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