Serum Angiotensin-I-Converting Enzyme and Carboxypeptidase N in Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Angiotensin-I-converting enzyme (ACE) and carboxypeptidase Ni and N2 (CPN(1), CPN(2)) inactivate kinins and might therefore play a role in the development of inflammatory reactions via an influence on the release of prostaglandins and inactivation of anaphylatoxic peptides of the complement system. In the present study, the serum activity of these enzymes was determined in 60 patients with Crohn’s disease, 18 patients with ulcerative colitis and 70 healthy control subjects. ACE was significantly lowered in active Crohn’s disease (CDAI > 150) and in ulcerative colitis (p < 0.01), as long as the ileum or cecum was affected. Since ACE was detected in high concentrations in the human intestinal mucosa, decreased values may be explained by damage to the site of its production. CPN(1) and CPN(2) were raised in both diseases (p < 0.005), irrespective of their activity and location. These alterations in the activity of the kininases investigated may play a role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel diseases.

This publication has 2 references indexed in Scilit: