Effect of colchicine on the activity of cathepsin B and D in human liver cirrhosis.

The activity of cathepsin B and D in human liver biopsy specimens from cirrhotic patients before and after one year of colchicine treatment was studied. The hydroxyproline content as a marker of the amount of collagen in tissue specimens was also determined. The hydroxyproline content in the liver samples was two or threefold that of the control group. After colchicine it remained unchanged or in some patients its values were decreased. Cathepsin B activity was higher in cirrhotic liver samples as compared with the controls, whereas the increased activity of cathepsin D was not significant. The ratio of cathepsin B and D activity to hepatic hydroxyproline content was significantly reduced in cirrhotic livers. Colchicine treatment was followed by an increase in the levels of the enzymes investigated as well as by a significant rise in the ratio of cathepsin B and D activity to hepatic hydroxyproline content.