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Sulfur Metabolism in Ulcerative Colitis (Investigation of Detoxification Enzymes in Peripheral Blood)

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Abstract

Two enzymes of detoxification were studied inblood samples from 27 patients with ulcerative colitis(UC) and 18 controls to determine whether there is anabnormality in sulfur metabolism in UC. Thiolmethyltransferase (TMT) activity was measured in erythrocytemembranes as the extent of conversion of2-mercaptoethanol to S-methyl-2-mercaptoethanol with[3H]methyl-S-adenosyl methionine as methyldonor. Phenol sulfotransferase (PST) activity was measured in platelethomogenates as the extent of sulfation of p -nitrophenolwith 3-phosphoadenosine 5-phospho[35S]sulfate(PAPS) as sulfate donor. TMT activity was significantlyhigher in UC patients (27.0 vs 17.1 nmol/mgprotein/hr; P < 0.005). No difference in PST activitywas found. We conclude that TMT may be up-regulated inUC to detoxify excess hydrogen sulfide exposed to the peripheral blood compartment. This may arisefrom either increased luminal sulfide production orreduced colonic detoxification.

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Authors
  1. Maxton C. L. Pitcher
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  2. Emily R. Beatty
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  3. Robert M. Harris
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  4. Rosemary H. Waring
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  5. John H. Cummings
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Pitcher, M.C.L., Beatty, E.R., Harris, R.M. et al. Sulfur Metabolism in Ulcerative Colitis (Investigation of Detoxification Enzymes in Peripheral Blood). Dig Dis Sci 43, 2080–2085 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1018867516575

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