Are proteases used as anti-inflammatory agents in reality accelerating the inflammatory process?

Area of Science:

• Pharmacology
• Inflammation Research

Background:

• Carrageenan-induced inflammation is a common model in rats.
• Surgical stress can influence inflammatory responses.
• Metopyrone inhibits endogenous corticosteroid synthesis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the potential anti-inflammatory effect of intraduodenally administered trypsin.
• To evaluate trypsin's impact on carrageenan-induced paw oedema and pleurisy models.
• To assess trypsin's effect on vascular permeability.

Main Methods:

• Rats were treated with metopyrone and received intraduodenal trypsin or sham treatment.
• Paw oedema was measured by plethysmography.
• Pleural leukocyte migration and protein leakage (Evans blue dye) were assessed.

Main Results:

• Trypsin did not show a significant anti-inflammatory effect in paw oedema or leukocyte migration.
• A non-significant 16% reduction in oedema was observed with trypsin.
• Trypsin demonstrated a pro-inflammatory effect by increasing protein leakage.

Conclusions:

• Intraduodenally administered trypsin does not appear to possess anti-inflammatory properties.
• Trypsin may accelerate the inflammatory process, potentially shortening its duration.
• Further research is needed to elucidate trypsin's role in inflammation.