421. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 1988 Jul;94(3):342-55.
Early effects of ionizing radiation on pulmonary endothelial
angiotensin-converting enzyme and 5'-nucleotidase, in vivo.
Catravas JD(1), Burch SE, Spurlock BO, Mills LR.
Author information:
(1)Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta
30912.
We investigated the early phase of pulmonary endothelial injury in rabbits
exposed to a single dose (30 Gy) of ionizing radiation to the chest, by measuring
endothelium-bound ectoenzyme activities. Utilizing multiple indicator-dilution
techniques, the metabolism of [3H]benzoyl-Phe-Ala-Pro (BPAP) and [14C]5'-AMP by
angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and 5'-nucleotidase (NCT), respectively, was
studied during a single transpulmonary passage in conscious, chronically
catheterized rabbits. From these data, the apparent kinetic constants Km and Amax
were calculated. A significant (p less than 0.05) decrease in the metabolism of
trace amounts of BPAP and 5'-AMP was observed at 2, 24, and 48 hr after
irradiation. A similar decrease in the apparent first order rate constant
(Amax/Km) of ACE was observed at 2 hr, but returned to control levels by 24 and
48 hr after irradiation. Apparent Km values of ACE for BPAP and NCT for 5'-AMP
were elevated at 2, 24, and 48 hr post-treatment, whereas Amax (product of enzyme
mass and the constant of product formation, kcat) of ACE was elevated at 2 and 24
hr but not at 48 hr, and Amax for NCT was elevated at 2 hr post-treatment only.
Significant decreases in mean arterial blood pressure and pulmonary blood flow
(Qb) at 2 hr post-treatment, and increases in Qb at 24 and 48 hr post-treatment
were also recorded. No changes in endothelial structure were observed 2 hr after
irradiation at the light or electron microscope level. We conclude that the early
phase of radiation-induced lung injury includes changes in endothelial enzyme
function in the absence of structural damage, as reflected in an apparent
decrease in affinity of ACE and NCT for their substrates, allowing for the
possibility that hemodynamic disturbances or their sequalae could also have
contributed to the decrease in enzyme function.
PMID: 2840753 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]