A study of amine oxidases in bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis

Prolonged lung retention of 123I-IMP in pulmonary fibrosis

We compared radiographic findings and the retention of N-isopropyl- p[123I]-iodoamphetamine (123I-IMP) in 23 patients with pulmonary fibrosis. During the 30 minutes following a rapid injection of 55.5 MBq of 123I-IMP into the antecubital vein, the image of regional activity was stored. After this, 185 MBq of 99mTc-MAA was injected and its image was stored to determine the region of interest. The half time (T1/2) of 123I-IMP release from the lung was calculated in each pixel between 10 and 25 minutes after the injection. Chest roentgenograms were taken, and the lung field was divided into 6 portions (right upper, middle and lower, and left upper, middle and lower). A quantitative score was assigned to the radiographic finding (X-ray score). The T1/2 values in the above patients were longer than the T1/2 values in normal subjects. Prolonged T1/2 values were observed in the lung fields which had high X-ray scores. The X-ray scores and the T1/2 values in corresponding areas had a positive relation.

Vascular smooth muscle cells: a major source of the semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase of the rat aorta

Several methods have been used to study the distribution of the semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase (SSAO) within the wall of the rat aorta. After separation of the smooth muscle-containing layers of the tunica media from the connective tissue of the tunica adventitia, much higher specific enzyme activity (measured with 1 microM benzylamine) was found in homogenates of the media than of adventitia. Similar results were obtained for MAO-A (with 1 mM 5-HT as substrate). SSAO activity was also considerably higher in homogenates of cells (predominantly smooth muscle) isolated from medial tissue by enzymatic dissociation with collagenase and elastase compared with homogenates of cells (mostly of connective tissue origin) from the adventitia. Histochemical staining resulting from SSAO activity (with benzylamine as substrate) occurred predominantly and intensely over the tunica media in rat aortic sections, although some occasional staining of adventitial sites was also observed. Staining was prevented by the SSAO inhibitors hydroxylamine (1 microM) and semicarbazide (1 mM), but not by the MAO inhibitor, clorgyline (1 mM). These results indicate that SSAO is associated predominantly, although not exclusively, with the smooth muscle cells in the rat aorta. Our findings that beta-aminopropionitrile (BAPN) is a reversible, competitive inhibitor (Ki around 2 X 10(-4)M) of SSAO, in contrast to the irreversible inhibition of the connective tissue lysyl oxidase by BAPN reported by others, provides further evidence that these enzymes are not identical.

Inhibition of monoamine oxidase and semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase by mexiletine and related compounds

The in vitro inhibition by mexiletine and related compounds of the activity of rat brain, heart and lung monoamine oxidase-A (MAO-A), rat brain MAO-B, human platelet-poor plasma benzylamine oxidase and a clorgyline-resistant, semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase (SSAO) distinct from both MAO and benzylamine oxidase has been studied. The compounds were most active towards MAO-A and SSAO. IC50 values for mexiletine towards rat heart MAO-A and SSAO were 10 mumol/l and 320 mumol/l, respectively. Replacement of the para-hydrogen atom in the mexiletine aromatic ring by bromine increased potency towards both MAO-A and SSAO. Replacement of the ortho-methyl group in the mexiletine aromatic ring by hydrogen increased the potency towards SSAO alone. FLA 1042, with both these substitutions, was found to be a reversible mixed-type inhibitor of both MAO-A (Kislopei 1.4 mumol/l, Kiinti 24 mumol/l) and of SSAO (Kislopei 12 mumol/l, Kiinti 6 mumol/l).

Enzymes of collagen synthesis in lung tissues of bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis

The activities of prolyl hydroxylase (Pro-OHase), galactosylhydroxylysyl glucosyltransferase (Glu-Gal-Hyl-Tase), and hydroxylysyl galactosyltransferase (Gal-Hyl-Tase) were assayed in lung tissues of hamsters with bleomycin-induced experimental pulmonary fibrosis. Serum Glu-Gal-Hyl-Tase and aspartate transaminase (Asp-NH2-Tase) were measured in the same animals. Lung fibrosis was induced by intratracheal bleomycin instillation, and the enzyme activities were assayed 2, 3, and 4 weeks after bleomycin administration. The activities of the three lung enzymes increased significantly after bleomycin instillation. However, no difference in the values of serum Glu-Gal-Hyl-Tase or Asp-NH2-Tase were observed. Histologic examination of lung sections indicated progressive fibrotic foci. These results thus indicate that the activities of collagen processing enzymes are elevated in the fibrotic lung tissues as a reflection of the increased rate of collagen synthesis during the period of active fibrogenesis, but unlike liver fibrosis, the elevation of tissue Glu-Gal-Hyl-Tase is not predicted by a corresponding increase in serum levels of this enzyme.