Corticosteroid hormones and angiotensin-converting enzyme in the dynamics of chronic granulomatous inflammation

Abstract

It was studied the contents of corticosteroid hormones in the adrenal gland, plasma and 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity (11βHSD) in the liver and kidneys, as well as the activity of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) in blood plasma, lung, renal cortex and liver of male rats in the dynamics of SiO2-induced inflammation. The study showed that chronic granulomatous inflammation in rats was accompanied by an initial short-term reaction to the activation of synthesis of the main glucocorticoid hormone, followed by specific inhibition of synthesis of this hormone as well as 11βHSD activity in the adrenal gland. Inflammation caused less pronounced changes in the functional state of the renin-angiotensin system, however, inhibition of ACE activity observed in plasma, liver and kidneys during the initial period of inflammation. Factor analysis revealed a violation of intersystem relations of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical and renin-angiotensin systems in inflammation due, probably, to the modulating influence of cytokines.