Related Experiment Videos
Alterations in hepatic chromatin template availability during infection.
The American Journal of Physiology
|April 1, 1975
Summary
Systemic bacterial infections increase hepatic chromatin template availability, impacting gene transcription. Glucocorticoids play a role in this response, suggesting transcriptional control regulates the liver
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Immunology
- Genetics
Background:
- Systemic infections trigger complex host responses.
- Hepatic gene expression is crucial for metabolic adaptation during infection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate changes in hepatic chromatin template availability during bacterial infections.
- To explore the role of glucocorticoids in infection-induced transcriptional regulation.
Main Methods:
- Isolation of hepatic chromatin from rats at various time points post-bacterial inoculation.
- Assay of chromatin to determine DNA template availability for in vitro transcription.
- Adrenalectomy performed prior to infection to assess glucocorticoid involvement.
Main Results:
- Bacterial infections (Diplococcus pneumoniae, Salmonella typhimurium) increased hepatic chromatin template availability in a time- and severity-dependent manner.
- Earliest changes (50% increase) observed 4 hours post-D. pneumoniae inoculation, preceding clinical signs.
- Maximum increase (90%) noted at 24 hours; S. typhimurium showed slower, less pronounced effects.
- Adrenalectomy exacerbated disease but blunted the increase in template availability.
Conclusions:
- Systemic infections regulate hepatic metabolic responses via transcriptional control.
- Glucocorticoids are involved in mediating infection-induced increases in hepatic chromatin template availability.