Rajashree S, Puvanakrishnan R
Department of Biotechnology, Central Leather Research Institute, Adyar, Madras, India.
Mol Cell Biochem. 1996 Jan 26;154(2):165-70. doi: 10.1007/BF00226784.
Glucocorticoids have been used in the treatment of a number of diseases where immunological intolerance plays a predominant role. Since immunological intolerance points to the involvement of lysosomal enzymes and glucocorticoids are known to affect their activities, we have attempted to study the effect of these steroids on cardiac and renal enzymes. Dexamethasone, a glucocorticoid, is administered subcutaneously to male Wistar rats at a dosage of 2.5 mg/kg/week on alternate days for two weeks. After withdrawing the steroid, the animals are monitored for one week to oversee the recovery process. Total and free activities of glycohydrolases and cathepsins in serum, heart and kidney are assayed on the days 4, 8, 12, 16 of dexamethasone administration and also on days 4 and 8 following discontinuation of the steroid. During dexamethasone administration, a significant decrease in both the free and total activities of beta-glucuronidase, beta-N-acetyl glucosaminidase, beta-galactosidase, alpha-galactosidase, alpha-mannosidase, cathepsin B and cathepsin D are observed in heart and kidney, but the enzyme levels are shown to increase in serum. On withdrawal of the steroid, the activities of beta-glucuronidase, beta-N-acetyl glucosaminidase, beta-galactosidase are found to be increased in heart and kidney, whereas, the activity of alpha-mannosidase remains within normal values. Thus, it could be seen that dexamethasone alters the pattern of glycohydrolases and cathepsins, which are involved in protein degradation.
糖皮质激素已被用于治疗多种以免疫不耐受为主导作用的疾病。由于免疫不耐受表明溶酶体酶参与其中，且已知糖皮质激素会影响其活性，我们试图研究这些类固醇对心脏和肾脏酶的影响。将糖皮质激素地塞米松以2.5毫克/千克/周的剂量隔日皮下注射给雄性Wistar大鼠，持续两周。停用类固醇后，对动物进行一周的监测以观察恢复过程。在地塞米松给药的第4、8、12、16天以及停用类固醇后的第4天和第8天，测定血清、心脏和肾脏中糖水解酶和组织蛋白酶的总活性和游离活性。在地塞米松给药期间，心脏和肾脏中β-葡萄糖醛酸酶、β-N-乙酰葡糖胺酶、β-半乳糖苷酶、α-半乳糖苷酶、α-甘露糖苷酶、组织蛋白酶B和组织蛋白酶D的游离活性和总活性均显著降低，但血清中的酶水平显示升高。停用类固醇后，心脏和肾脏中β-葡萄糖醛酸酶、β-N-乙酰葡糖胺酶、β-半乳糖苷酶的活性增加，而α-甘露糖苷酶的活性保持在正常范围内。因此，可以看出地塞米松改变了参与蛋白质降解的糖水解酶和组织蛋白酶的模式。
