The degradation of human myelin basic protein peptide 43-88 by human renal neutral proteinase.

Normal human kidney contains a neutral endopeptidase that can degrade human myelin basic protein peptide 43-88. In the present study, renal homogenates prepared from postmortem tissue obtained from four persons with multiple sclerosis, two with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, one each with olivopontocerebellar atrophy, subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, and Guillain-Barré syndrome, and four controls were analyzed for the enzymes present that degrade human myelin BP peptide 43-88. There was no evidence that the activity in renal tissue for degrading human BP peptide 43-88 is qualitatively different in persons with MS, other neurologic diseases, or controls. Gel filtration of digested peptide demonstrated the action of an endopeptidase capable of hydrolyzing BP peptide 43-88 into large fragments.