Cancer cachexia modifies the zonal distribution of lipid metabolism-related proteins in rat liver.

Abstract

Cancer cachexia is a syndrome that causes profound metabolic disruption. Lipid metabolism in the liver is markedly affected. We investigated the effect of cachexia upon liver-acinus lipid-metabolism zonation in Walker 245 carcinosarcoma-bearing rats (TB). The expression of protein (by Western blotting) and mRNA (by semi-quantitative polymerase chain reaction) of the enzymes of the carnitine palmitoyltransferase system (CPT I and CPT II) and of liver fatty-acid-binding protein (L-FABP) was studied. Although no changes were found for these parameters, the maximal activities (by radioassay) of CPT I and II were reduced (P<0.05) in TB compared with controls. CPT II activity in the perivenous (PV) region was higher in TB compared with controls. The distribution of CPT II and L-FABP (by immunohistochemistry) within the acinus was modified by cachexia: whereas CPT II positivity was restricted to the PV zone, L-FABP labelling shifted from periportal (control) to perivenous (TB) zone. These changes in metabolic zonation, together with decreased CPT II activity, may contribute to the aggravation of cachexia.

• Authors: Melissa Kazantzis, Marília C L Seelaender
• Journal: Cell and tissue research (Cell Tissue Res) Vol. 321 Issue 3 Pg. 419-27 (Sep 2005) ISSN: 0302-766X [Print] Germany
• PMID: 16021474 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Carrier Proteins
• Fabp1 protein, rat
• Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins
• RNA, Messenger
• Carnitine O-Palmitoyltransferase

Topics

• Animals
• Cachexia (metabolism)
• Carcinoma 256, Walker (physiopathology)
• Carnitine O-Palmitoyltransferase (genetics, metabolism)
• Carrier Proteins (genetics, metabolism)
• Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins
• Gene Expression Regulation
• Hepatocytes (cytology, enzymology)
• Immunohistochemistry
• Lipid Metabolism
• Liver (cytology, enzymology)
• Male
• RNA, Messenger (metabolism)
• Rats
• Rats, Wistar