Biomaterial Database

Role of beta-glucuronidase, a lysosomal enzyme, in the pathogenesis of intestinal amoebiasis: an experimental study. 1988

K J Virk, and R C Mahajan, and J B Dilawari, and N K Ganguly

Department of Parasitology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.

The role of beta-glucuronidase (BG), released by blood monocytes and Kupffer cells, in the pathogenesis of intestinal amoebiasis was studied. Guinea-pigs, infected intracaecally with Entamoeba histolytica, were killed 0, 3, 7, 14 and 21 d after infection. Enhanced levels of BG were observed in the cell lysates as well as supernatants of both blood monocytes and Kupffer cells in the infected animals, from the 3rd day after infection, as compared to those in controls. The rise in BG levels was more marked on 7 and 14 d after infection (P less than 0.001). The animal which survived for 21 d had lower levels of BG, though still significantly higher than those in controls (P less than 0.05). The animals with grade IV or V caecal scoring and on the verge of death had higher levels of beta-glucuronidase. A direct correlation was observed between the enzyme levels and severity of infection. It is postulated that acid hydrolases have a role in causing tissue damage during intestinal amoebiasis.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008247	Lysosomes	A class of morphologically heterogeneous cytoplasmic particles in animal and plant tissues characterized by their content of hydrolytic enzymes and the structure-linked latency of these enzymes. The intracellular functions of lysosomes depend on their lytic potential. The single unit membrane of the lysosome acts as a barrier between the enzymes enclosed in the lysosome and the external substrate. The activity of the enzymes contained in lysosomes is limited or nil unless the vesicle in which they are enclosed is ruptured or undergoes MEMBRANE FUSION. (From Rieger et al., Glossary of Genetics: Classical and Molecular, 5th ed).	Autolysosome,Autolysosomes,Lysosome
D008297	Male		Males
D002432	Cecum	The blind sac or outpouching area of the LARGE INTESTINE that is below the entrance of the SMALL INTESTINE. It has a worm-like extension, the vermiform APPENDIX.	Cecums
D004404	Dysentery, Amebic	DYSENTERY caused by intestinal amebic infection, chiefly with ENTAMOEBA HISTOLYTICA. This condition may be associated with amebic infection of the LIVER and other distant sites.	Amebiasis, Intestinal,Amebic Dysentery,Colitis, Amebic,Entamoebiasis, Intestinal,Intestinal Amebiasis,Amoebiasis, Intestinal,Amoebic Colitis,Amoebic Dysentery,Intestinal Amoebiasis,Intestinal Entamoeba histolytica Infection,Amebiases, Intestinal,Amebic Colitides,Amebic Colitis,Amebic Dysenteries,Amoebiases, Intestinal,Amoebic Colitides,Amoebic Dysenteries,Colitides, Amebic,Colitides, Amoebic,Colitis, Amoebic,Dysenteries, Amebic,Dysenteries, Amoebic,Dysentery, Amoebic,Entamoebiases, Intestinal,Intestinal Amebiases,Intestinal Amoebiases,Intestinal Entamoebiases,Intestinal Entamoebiasis
D004748	Entamoeba histolytica	A species of parasitic protozoa causing ENTAMOEBIASIS and amebic dysentery (DYSENTERY, AMEBIC). Characteristics include a single nucleus containing a small central karyosome and peripheral chromatin that is finely and regularly beaded.	Endamoeba histolytica,histolytica, Endamoeba
D005260	Female		Females
D005966	Glucuronidase		Endo-beta-D-Glucuronidase,Endoglucuronidase,Exo-beta-D-Glucuronidase,beta-Glucuronidase,Endo beta D Glucuronidase,Exo beta D Glucuronidase,beta Glucuronidase
D006168	Guinea Pigs	A common name used for the genus Cavia. The most common species is Cavia porcellus which is the domesticated guinea pig used for pets and biomedical research.	Cavia,Cavia porcellus,Guinea Pig,Pig, Guinea,Pigs, Guinea
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia