Mechanisms of Hepatocellular Dysfunction and Regeneration: Enzyme Inhibition by Nitroimidazole and Human Liver Regeneration

Enzymes so called (Enz’-a-ai-am) are biologically active protein molecules responsible of biochemical reactions in the bacteria, cells and organs. Enzymes regulate the rates of biochemical reactions to maintain the metabolism to keep active physiological actions in the body. High enzyme activities or high rates of reactions cause higher product formation or deposits to initiate disease. Drugs are used as enzyme competitors to normalize the reactions to correct disease. Most of diseases are cured by ‘enzyme inhibition’. Enzyme inhibition can be three types: competitive, non-competitive, and uncompetitive. Enzyme inhibition also provides a kind of defense in cells by regulation of metabolism to inhibit or stimulate the biochemical processes. Most of the drugs undergo detoxification and biotransformation in liver to regenerate or formation of new hepatocytes and Kupffer cells. Major biochemical events in liver regeneration are regulated by enzymes in energy metabolism, growth factors and cytokine molecules.