Liver Cirrhosis Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Liver Cirrhosis, including details on alcohol, treatment, drugs, effects, causes.

Expression of apolipoprotein AI mRNA in peripheral white blood cells of patients with alcoholic liver disease.

Nuño-González P, Ruíz-Madrigal B, Bastidas-Ramírez BE, Martínez-López E, Segura JE, Panduro A

Department of Molecular Biology in Medicine, Civil Hospital of Guadalajara Fray Antonio Alcalde, México.

Because (i) changes in plasma and liver mRNA of apolipoprotein (apo) AI have been observed in patients with alcoholic liver disease, (ii) apo AI mRNA can be induced in non-hepatic tissues, and (iii) apolipoproteins expression is influenced by plasma colloid osmotic pressure (P(CO)) and viscosity (eta), we analyzed the Apo AI mRNA expression in the peripheral white blood cells (PWBC), P(CO), and eta in control volunteers (C), patients with liver cirrhosis (LC), and cirrhotic patients with superimposed alcoholic hepatitis (LC+AH). We found that apo AI mRNA is expressed in the PWBC in 20% of C and it is induced 1.5 fold in 66.6% of LC and 1.95 fold in 85% of LC+AH. A significant decrease of P(CO) in LC and LC + AH (14.8 +/- 2.4 and 16.2 +/- 2.4 mm Hg, respectively) compared to C (27.9 +/- 2 mm Hg) was observed. By contrast, eta was mildly increased from 1.7389 +/- 0.07 in C to 1.8022 +/- 0.154 in LC and 1.9030 +/- 0.177 in LC+AH. No significant correlation was found between P(CO) and eta with apo AI mRNA but with lipid profile. In conclusion, apo AI mRNA expression in PWBC is associated to liver disease severity and could be an indirect indicator of alcoholic liver damage.

Published 13 June 2005 in Biochim Biophys Acta, 1740(3): 350-6.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2004-2008 Liver Cirrhosis Research Today. All Rights Reserved.