Physiological values of cysteine and metalloproteinase activities in chorionic villi.

Lysosomal cysteine proteinases (cathepsin H, B + L) and metalloproteinase (MMP7-ase) activities were measured from early gestational period (6-12 weeks) in frozen, non-cultivated chorionic villi. The mean activity of cathepsin H was 50.99 mU/mg protein, of cathepsin B + L, 71.16 mU/mg protein, and of MMP7-ase, 16.16 mU/mg protein. The MMP7-ase enzyme activities showed a correlation with gestational age. There was a significant correlation between the activities of cathepsin H and MMP7-ase.