Does corticosteroid metabolism in target organs affect the cardiovascular system?
The target organ metabolism of corticosteroids has been measured with biochemical and immunohistochemical techniques. Attention was focused on the key enzyme system 11 beta-hydroxysteroid oxidoreductase (11 beta-HSOR, EC 1.1.1.146). Several organs of rats, including kidney, colon, testis, pancreas, liver, lung and heart, express oxidative, as well as reductive activity, albeit with different ratios. The specific co-substrate preference in different organs points to the presence of isoforms of the enzyme, which can be inhibited by steroid compounds. In kidney tubules longitudinal heterogeneity of the enzyme distribution pattern has been reported. Inhibition of 11 beta-HSOR in transporting epithelia such as those of kidney and colon by liquorice, glycyrrhetinic acid and others leads to aldosterone-like effects of glucocorticosteroids. The mechanism of this effect is breakdown of the specific 11 beta-HSOR barrier for glucocorticosteroids which subsequently bind to mineralocorticosteroid receptors. Other possible mechanisms of interaction of the corticosteroid metabolism and the cardiovascular system are discussed.
Hierholzer
K
K
Department of Clinical Physiology, University Clinic Benjamin Franklin, Free University of Berlin, Germany.
Lichtenstein
I
I
Siebe
H
H
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002319:Cardiovascular System / Q000378:metabolism*; D003106:Colon / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014018:Tissue Distribution
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones