title: Characterisation of 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases in feline kidney and liver.
abstract: 11 Beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases type 1 and 2 (11 beta-HSD1 and 11 beta-HSD2) are microsomal enzymes responsible for the interconversion of cortisol into the inactive form cortisone and vice versa. 11 beta-HSD1 is mainly present in the liver, and has predominantly reductase activity although its function has not yet been elucidated. 11 beta-HSD2, present in mineralocorticoid target tissues such as the kidney, converts cortisol into cortisone. Reduced activity due to inhibition or mutations of 11 beta-HSD2 leads to hypertension and hypokalemia resulting in the Apparent Mineralocorticoid Excess Syndrome (AMES). Like humans, cats are highly susceptible for hypertension. As large species differences exist with respect to the kinetic parameters (K(m) and V(max)) and amino acid sequences of both enzymes, we determined these characteristics in the cat. Both enzyme types were found in the kidneys. 11 beta-HSD1 in the feline kidney showed bidirectional activity with predominantly dehydrogenase activity (dehydrogenase: K(m) 1959+/-797 nM, V(max) 766+/-88 pmol/mg*min; reductase: K(m) 778+/-136 nM, V(max) 112+/-4 pmol/mg*min). 11 beta-HSD2 represents a unidirectional dehydrogenase with a higher substrate affinity (K(m) 184+/-24 nM, V(max) 74+/-3 pmol/mg*min). In the liver, only 11 beta-HSD1 is detected exerting reductase activity (K(m) 10462 nM, V(max) 840 pmol/mg*min). Sequence analysis of conserved parts of 11 beta-HSD1 and 11 beta-HSD2 revealed the highest homology of the feline enzymes with the correspondent enzymes found in man. This suggests that the cat may serve as a suitable model species for studies directed to the pathogenesis and treatment of human diseases like AMES and hypertension.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Pharmacy, Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University Utrecht, P.O. Box 80.152, 3508 TD Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Schipper
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Spee
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rothuizen
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Woutersen-van Nijnanten
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fink-Gremmels
mesh_terms: D043205:11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 1 / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D043209:11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 2 / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites / Q000235:genetics; D002415:Cats / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D007668:Kidney / Q000201:enzymology*; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D008861:Microsomes / Q000201:enzymology; D008862:Microsomes, Liver / Q000201:enzymology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D043205:11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 1; D043209:11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 2