Proteinases in Catabolism and Malnutrition

Abstract

Protein synthesis and degradation are particularly sensitive to malnutrition and catabolic states. Intracellular protein degradation is determined by the conformation, molecular weight, isoelectric point, and carbohydrate content of the proteins. ATP-stimulated endoproteases appear to catalyse the rate-limiting steps. In the liver, proteolysis is reduced by amino acids and/or insulin, whereas glucagon stimulates protein degradation, probably due to depletion of intracellular gluconeogenic amino acids. In the muscle, protein degradation is promoted by interleukin-1 and inhibited by Ep-475, which specifically inactivates cathepsin B,H, and L. Myofibrillar alkaline protemase activity increases postoperatively and in patients suffering from malignant tumors, whereas normal proteinase values were observed in these patients following total parenteral nutrition. Increased alkaline proteinase activity is also observed in diabetes mellitus and is normalized by insulin. Extracellular proteolysis has been reported in patients with hypercatabolic acute renal failure and in patients with sepsis or acute pancreatitis. Plasma fractions obtained from hypercatabolic patients with postoperative acute renal failure were proteolytic. Plasma proteinase activity decreases during hemodialysis due to elimination of a metallo-proteinase. Plasma α2-macroglobulin decreases in patients with acute renal failure and also during acute pancreatitis. Proteolytic degradation of parathyroid hormone by sera obtained from patients with acute pancreatitis has been observed. Also, there is a decrease of high molecular weight kininogen during experimental acute pancreatitis. Granulocyte elastase increases postoperatively, mainly in patients with sepsis. Sepsis also causes increased proteolytic activity in the urine.

In conclusion, intracellular protein degradation can supply important precursors for hepatic and renal gluconeogenesis during malnutrition. Selective and nonspecific proteolysis may occur in patients with severe injury, sepsis, or acute renal failure, and result in the consumption of various plasma proteins. (Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition 11:98S-103S, 1987)