Proteinases secreted by human mononuclear phagocytes

Human mononuclear phagocytes express an array of serine and metal dependent proteinases that are under complex developmental control and are also highly regulated by physiologic and pharmacologic stimuli. Monocytes contain the intracellular serine proteinases, elastase and cathepsin G, but have little metalloproteinase secretory capacity. Macrophages, on the other hand, produce predominantly metalloproteinases. Phorbol induced differentiation of promonocyte-like U937 cells into more mature mononuclear phagocytes results in transcriptional suppression of cathepsin G and temporally delayed onset of collagenase transcription. Mature macrophages upregulate metalloproteinase synthesis in response to lipopolysaccharide and phorbol myristic acetate; expression is downregulated with interferon gamma and dexamethasone. Thus, during the development of the mononuclear phagocyte, stores of serine proteinases are replaced by regulated secretion of metalloproteinases. These alterations may reflect changing roles of these cells in extracellular matrix degradation.