title: Morphine modulates cathepsin B and L activity in isolated glomeruli and mesangial cells.
abstract: Altered matrix degradation may be playing a role in the development of initial mesangial expansion and subsequent glomerulosclerosis in persons with heroin abuse. We studied whether morphine, a metabolite of heroin, had any effect on lysosomal content of cathepsin B and L in mesangial cells. Morphine (10(-6) M) increased (P < 0.01) mesangial cathepsin B and L activity (control, 22.1 + 2.2 vs. morphine, 31.4 + 1.4 mol NMec/microgram protein, N = 5). Morphine (10(-6) M) also increased (P < 0.01) glomerular cathepsin B and L activity (control, 0.1 + 0.01 vs. morphine, 2.2 +/- 0.2 pmol NMec/microgram protein, N = 3). This effect of morphine occurred in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that morphine enhances cathepsin B and L activity in mesangial cells and isolated glomeruli. This effect of morphine may enhance capacity of mesangial cells to degrade increased amount of mesangial macromolecules.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Long Island Jewish Medical Center, New Hyde Park, New York 10042.
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Singhal
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sagar
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gibbons
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002401:Cathepsin B / Q000378:metabolism*; D056668:Cathepsin L; D002403:Cathepsins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002469:Cell Separation; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D010450:Endopeptidases; D005920:Glomerular Mesangium / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D007678:Kidney Glomerulus / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D009020:Morphine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D009020:Morphine; D002403:Cathepsins; D010450:Endopeptidases; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases; D002401:Cathepsin B; D056668:Cathepsin L; C534280:Ctsl protein, rat