Application of ELISA Technique and Human Microsomes in the Search for 11β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Inhibitors

The metabolic syndrome is defined by impaired carbohydrate metabolism and lipid disorders and often accompanied by hypertension, all of which will lead to obesity and insulin resistance. Glucocorticoids play a regulatory role in the metabolism of proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates. There is growing evidence for a role of glucocorticoids in the development of the metabolic syndrome. The most important factor that regulates the access of endogenous glucocorticoids to receptors after release of glucocorticoids and their diffusion into the cytoplasm of target cells is the steroid metabolism involving a microsomal enzyme, 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11β-HSD). The changes in intracellular glucocorticoid metabolism in the pathogenesis of obesity indicate the participation of modulation by 11β-HSD1, which may represent a new therapeutic target for the treatment of diseases such as type 2 diabetes, visceral obesity, or atherosclerosis. The aim of our study was to determine the fast and effective method to assess inhibition activity of compounds in relation with 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. The material for this study was human liver and kidney microsomes. In this study we used ELISA technique using 96-well microplates coated with antibodies which were specific for analyzed enzymes. The method can quickly and efficiently measure the inhibition of both 11β-HSD1 and 11β-HSD2. This method can be used to search for and determine inhibitors of this enzyme. Cortisone and cortisol were used as the substrates for corresponding enzyme assays. Furthermore, 3-N-allyl-2-thiouracil derivatives were used by us for comparison purposes in developing the method, although, due to their structure, those derivatives have not previously been considered as potential inhibitors of 11β-HSD1. 3-N-Allyl-2-thiouracil derivatives are a group worth considering, because by modifying their structure (e.g., by introducing other substituents into the pyrimidine ring) it will be possible to obtain an increase in the activity of compounds in this regard. In conclusion, this study shows an efficient and fast method of determining inhibition activity of compounds in relation with 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase.