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Objective. To analyze enzymes involved in joint damage by simultaneous investigation of glycosidases and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in patients with various joint diseases. In joint diseases, the major clinical symptoms and disability of patients are caused by an irreversible destruction of hyaline cartilage. Enzymes capable of degrading extracellular matrix components (collagen and aggrecan) and concomitantly exposing chondrocytes to a variety of cytotoxic and/or apoptosis-inducing factors are considered to be the major effector molecules in cartilage degradation. Methods. Activities of glycosidases (␤-DRecently, significant advances have been made in our understanding of joint destruction and the mechanism of proteolytic cleavage of cartilage. Active proteases are currently implicated in the destructive processes and include matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), the ADAM family (1), the ADAM-TS family (2), and serine proteases (elastase, cathepsins, and granzymes) (3-5). Of the 4 groups of MMPs, collagenase (MMP-1 in particular) appears to be responsible for the degradation of interstitial collagens. The gelatinases (including MMP-2 and MMP-9) degrade the denatured form of collagens, thus acting in synergy with MMP-1. The stromelysins (including MMP-3) have a broader substrate specificity for non-connective tissue components.

These results indicate a significantly higher immunity to small proteoglycans in RA and seronegative spondylarthropathies than in OA suggesting a possible involvement in the pathogenesis of inflammatory rheumatic diseases.

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Our first project aimed to determine the average values of Fe and Zn in normal German human brain (5 individuals, 10 brain parts). Determinations were carried out by instrumental neutron activation analysis in Berlin. Quality control measurements were performed using National Institute of Standard Technology standard reference materials. The present results show non-homogeneous distribution of Fe and Zn in normal human brain. Our second goal was to study the possible elemental concentration changes in German patients with Alzheimer disease (5 subjects, 10 brain regions). Fe and Zn values are found to be significantly changed in some AD brain regions compared to the controls. Another object of this work was to extend the method for the determination of elemental concentration not only in whole brain samples (high fat content) but -applying two types of solvent extraction -in lipid fraction and in brain tissue without lipid.