Increased γ‐Glutamyl Transpeptidase Activity During Inflammation and its Inhibition by 6‐MFA, a Metabolite Obtained from Aspergillus ochraceus

Abstract

γ-Glutamyl transpeptidase (γ-GTP) is known to play a vital role in the turnover of glutathione and protein synthesis. Hence, it is presumed that changes in the activity of γ-GTP in inflamed tissue itself might occur as both catabolic and anabolic processes are activated simultaneously in inflammation. The aim of this study was to determine γ-GTP activity in oedematous and granulomatous tissues in carrageenin-induced hind-paw oedema and cotton-pellet granuloma, respectively, in rats. In the time course study, maximum γ-GTP activity was observed in oedematous tissue at 4h after carrageenin injection and in granulomatous tissue on Day 7 after cotton-pellet implantation. Treatment with 6-MFA significantly inhibited the increase in γ-GTP activity in both oedematous and granulomatous tissues. The results suggest that the measurement of γ-GTP activity in inflammation may serve as a sensitive biochemical marker for evaluation of the in-vivo anti-inflammatory activity of drugs.