Which of the following is the best-known metabolic function of the lung?
A. Inactivation of serotoninB. Conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II
C. Inactivation of bradykinin
D. Metabolism of basic drugs by cytochrome P450 system
The
Answer is ‘B’. The
lungs also activate one hormone; physiologically inactive angiotensin lis
converted into the pressor, aldosterone stimulating angiotensin II in the
pulmonary circulation. Large amounts of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)
responsible for this activation are located on the surface of the endothelial
cells of the pulmonary capillaries.
