Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: EC:3.2.1.31 (beta-glucuronidase)
 7,680 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

We report for the first time that in vivo treatment with dexamethasone (DEX) reduces levels of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) expression on rat circulating unstimulated monocytes (-55%) and peritoneal macrophages (-26%). This effect was present following sub-acute (5 days) treatment with a low dose (0.1 mg/kg per day), but not after single administration of a high dose (1 mg/kg, -2 h), of the steroid. Both acute and sub-acute treatment with DEX failed to modify either basal or up-regulated CD11b expression on peripheral blood monocytes and neutrophils, elastase release from neutrophils, and beta-glucuronidase release from cultured macrophages. The lack of alteration of CD11b expression on circulating leukocytes suggests that the effect of DEX on ICAM-1 expression is secondary to gene repression rather than a non-specific blockade of cell differentiation. These data promote the concept that different dose-regimens with glucocorticoids affect distinct molecular targets and indicate that clinically-related protocols of DEX may reveal new mechanism(s) of action.
 ...
PMID:Subacute treatment of rats with dexamethasone reduces ICAM-1 levels on circulating monocytes. 907 Aug 69

This chapter focuses on deglucuronidation by beta-glucuronidase in inflammation. We investigated whether glucuronides were converted to free parent compounds by beta-glucuronidase released from human-stimulated neutrophils in inflammation. Beta-glucuronidase activity was assayed using 4-methylumbelliferyl-glucuronide and methanol extracts of rat plasma containing luteolin monoglucuronide as a substrate. The released 4-methylumbelliferone, a fluorescent molecule, was quantitated on a microplate fluorometer. Deglucuronidation of luteolin monoglucuronide was examined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis. The beta-glucuronidase activity in mouse plasma after iv injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) increased with time, as did the levels of inflammation marker, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1. Four kinds of human cell (neutrophils, human umbilical vein endothelial cells, IMR-90, and Caco-2) possess beta-glucuronidase activity. Among these, Caco-2 cells showed the highest level of beta-glucuronidase activity. Supernatants obtained from neutrophils stimulated with cytochalasin B and ionomycin showed higher levels of beta-glucuronidase activity than those of nonstimulated neutrophils. HPLC analyses also showed that supernatants obtained from stimulated neutrophils hydrolyzed luteolin monoglucuronide to free luteolin. As reported previously (Shimoi et al., 1998), two main peaks (free luteolin and luteolin monoglucuronide) were observed in plasma of rats administered with luteolin. In LPS-treated rats, the peak of luteolin monoglucuronide decreased to about half and the ratio of luteolin to luteolin monoglucuronide increased. These results suggest that beta-glucuronidase released from neutrophils or certain injured cells may hydrolyze glucuronide conjugates to free aglycones at the site of inflammation.
 ...
PMID:Glucuronidase deconjugation in inflammation. 1639 54