A circulatory collagenase inhibitor

Abstract

There is an increased production of collagenase from explants of rabbit colon postoperatively. The enhanced reaction is not confined to the site of injury but occurs throughout the gastro-intestinal tract, suggesting that the healing process is not purely under local control. This is not the result of increased endogenous steroid production, for injection of 10 mg. cortisone acetate into rabbits for 2 or 3 days produces no alteration in bursting pressure of the colon, no decreased collagen content of the colon or skin, or increased production of collagenase. Addition of serum significantly inhibits the collagen-collagenase reaction of tissue explants. This inhibitory effect has been demonstrated by protein fractionation methods to be due to an alpha-globulin of high molecular weight. Adult and foetal serum from several mammals all contain an alpha-globulin inhibitor to collagenase. Following injury, collagen lysis occurs as a result of increased collagenase activity. This is associated with a decrease in circulating inhibitor.