Eglin-c, a polypeptide derived from the medicinal leech, prevents human neutrophil elastase-induced emphysema and bronchial secretory cell metaplasia in the hamster
Preclinical pharmacology article published in American Review of Respiratory Disease (1985)
Abstract
Eglin-c (Eg-c), a polypeptide with a molecular mass of 8,100 daltons, was purified from the medicinal leech Hirudo medicinalis. The Eg-c was tritiated by reductive methylation for in vitro studies. Incubation of 2.1 X 10(-10) moles of human neutrophil elastase (HNE) with 3H-elastin in the presence of 8.2 X 10(-10) moles of 3H-Eg-c inhibited 98.7% of the elastolytic activity of the enzyme. Using Sephadex G 100 chromatography and 1.7 moles of 3H-Eg-c per mole of HNE, a 34,000-dalton complex (3H-Eg-c-HNE) was observed. The stability of the complex formed between 3H-Eg-c and HNE that had been inactivated with succinyl-ala2-pro-val CH2Cl was much less than that of the 3H-Eg-c-HNE complex. In vivo studies were carried out in weight-matched groups of anesthetized golden Syrian hamsters given 100, 300, 500, or 2,000 micrograms of Eg-c in 0.5 ml saline intratracheally 1 h before 300 micrograms HNE was administered intratracheally. Control animals received saline followed by HNE or 2 doses of saline 1 h apart. Eight weeks later, lung statics and dynamics were measured in anesthetized animals, followed by histologic study of lung parenchyma and the mucosa of the large intrapulmonary airways. There were no deaths, and final mean body weights were similar in all groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.
Resumen
Intratracheal eglin-c (100-2000 µg) administered 1 hour before human neutrophil elastase prevents emphysema and bronchial secretory cell metaplasia in hamsters, demonstrating in vivo therapeutic potential.
Por qué esto importa para la hirudoterapia
Este estudio examinó eglin-c, un polipéptido de 8.100 daltons purificado de la sanguijuela medicinal Hirudo medicinalis, como inhibidor de la elastasa de neutrófilos humanos (HNE). In vitro, eglin-c formó un complejo de 34.000 daltons con la HNE e inhibió el 98,7% de su actividad elastolítica. In vivo, se administró eglin-c por vía intratraqueal (100-2.000 µg) a hámsters sirios dorados una hora antes de la HNE intratraqueal, seguidos de la medición de la mecánica pulmonar estática y dinámica y la evaluación histológica del parénquima pulmonar y la mucosa de las vías respiratorias a las ocho semanas. El resumen está truncado en 250 palabras y no informa de los resultados completos in vivo de estos experimentos. Este estudio es relevante para la caracterización de compuestos bioactivos derivados de la sanguijuela medicinal, pero es un estudio preclínico en animales que no involucra a la hirudoterapia en sí, y los resultados completos no están disponibles en el resumen.
Citación
Eglin-c, a polypeptide derived from the medicinal leech, prevents human neutrophil elastase-induced emphysema and bronchial secretory cell metaplasia in the hamster.
Snider GL, Stone PJ, Lucey EC et al. · The American review of respiratory disease, 1985
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Añadido a la biblioteca ASH: May 26, 2026 · Última actualización del sitio: 18 de junio de 2026