title: Down-regulation of hepatic and renal 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in rats with liver cirrhosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  11 beta-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11 beta-OHSD) enzymes are responsible for the interconversion of active 11 beta-hydroxycorticosteroids into inactive 11-ketoglucocorticosteroids and by that mechanism regulate the intracellular access of the steroids to the cognate receptor. A down-regulation of the shuttle of active to inactive glucocorticoids enhances access of glucocorticosteroids to both the glucocorticoid and the mineralocorticoid receptors. In liver cirrhosis, enhanced mineralocorticoid and glucocorticoid effects are observed. We therefore investigated the impact of liver cirrhosis after bile duct ligation on the transcription and activity of 11 beta-OHSD1 and 11 beta-OHSD2 in the corresponding tissues.
  
  
  METHODS
  Messenger RNA from 11 beta-OHSD1 and 11 beta-OHSD2 was assessed by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction; activity was assessed by measuring the interconversion of corticosterone to dehydrocorticosterone. The effect of bile and bile salts was determined using COS-1 cells transfected with 11 beta-OHSD1 or 11 beta-OHSD2.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In liver tissue, the messenger RNA ratios of 11 beta-OHSD1 to glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) levels and, in kidney tissue, the ratios of 11 beta-OHSD2 to GAPDH levels decreased after induction of liver cirrhosis. The 11 beta-OHSD activities were correspondingly reduced. Bile and individual bile salts inhibited 11 beta-OHSD1 and 11 beta-OHSD2 oxidative activity in transfected COS-1 cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings indicate that in liver cirrhosis the mineralocorticoid and glucocorticoid receptor-protecting effects by the 11 beta-OHSD isoenzymes are down-regulated and that by the same mechanism the glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid effects are enhanced.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Berne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Escher
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nawrocki
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Staub
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Vishwanath
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Frey
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Reichen
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Frey
mesh_terms: D042842:11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases; D000818:Animals; D019556:COS Cells; D015536:Down-Regulation; D006913:Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007668:Kidney / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D008106:Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental / Q000201:enzymology*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D006913:Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases; D042842:11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases