Inhibition of Collagenase Activity by N ‐Chlorotaurine, a Product of Activated Neutrophils

Objective . To study the effects of N ‐chlorotaurine on collagenase activity, as a model of the effects of neutrophil activation in inflammatory arthritis. Methods . Collagen degradation by collagenase was measured by the release of acid‐soluble counts from 3 H‐collagen. Results . N ‐chlorotaurine inhibited the degradation of collagen by bacterial collagenase. This result is explained by a direct inhibition/inactivation of collagenase, since N ‐chlorotaurine had no effect on the proteolytic susceptibility of collagen itself. The effect appears to be specific to N ‐chlorotaurine since N ‐chloroalanine, N ‐chloroleucine, and HOCl/OCl ‐ failed to inhibit collagenase; in fact, N ‐chloroalanine and N ‐chloroleucine actually increased the proteolytic susceptibility of collagen. Conclusion . N ‐chlorotaurine may minimize damage to cartilaginous joint structures in inflammatory arthritis by inhibiting/inactivating collagenase.