| Popis: |
The inhibitory effect of 38 antirheumatic and other agents on purified neutral protease from human polymorphonuclear leucocytes has been studied by determining the decrease in enzyme activity on Z-Ala-NPH as substrate. Analgesics, salicylates, cytostatic agents and steroids, as well as D-penicillamine, colchicine, allopurinol, chlorzoxazone and chlorpromazine, either had no effect on neutral protease or inhibited it only to a very small extent. Typical antirheumatic agents like gold and pyrazolone derivatives suppressed the activity of the enzyme at a concentration of 10(-5)M. The two sulphonated polysaccharides Arteparon and pentosan polysulphate (SP 54) were the most potent inhibitors of neutral protease (inhibition down to 10(-8)M). Increasing concentrations of various inorganic salts gradually suppressed the effect of some otherwise effective drugs on neutral protease. The drugs were completely ineffective at a salt concentration of 0.5 M. At physiological concentrations, however, this effect was insignificant. Inhibition of neutral protease may be one way in which some antirheumatic drugs exert a therapeutic effect in rheumatic diseases. |
