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Morphometric study of human hepatic cell modifications induced by fenofibrate
Metabolism: Clinical and Experimental
|March 1, 1987
Summary
Fenofibrate treatment alters liver mitochondria in hyperlipoproteinemia patients. Type II patients showed reduced normal mitochondria volume, while Type IV patients had fewer giant mitochondria and less altered mitochondrial volume.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Cell Biology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Hyperlipoproteinemia (HLP) is a condition characterized by elevated lipid levels.
- Fenofibrate is a medication commonly used to manage HLP.
- Understanding drug-induced cellular changes in the liver is crucial for patient safety and efficacy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of fenofibrate on liver mitochondria in hyperlipoproteinemia patients.
- To compare mitochondrial changes in HLP patients treated with fenofibrate versus diet alone.
- To analyze fenofibrate's impact on different types of hyperlipoproteinemia (Type II and Type IV).
Main Methods:
- Liver biopsies were obtained from 12 hyperlipoproteinemia patients treated with fenofibrate and diet, and 15 patients treated with diet only.
- Electron microscopy was used for detailed examination of liver tissue.
- Morphometric analysis (Weibel and Rohr method) quantified mitochondrial volume and number.
Main Results:
- Fenofibrate treatment led to a decreased volume of normal mitochondria in Type II HLP patients (P < .05).
- In Type IV HLP patients, fenofibrate significantly reduced the number of giant mitochondria (P < .05) and the volume of altered mitochondria (P < .05).
- No significant changes in peroxisome number or volume were observed in fenofibrate-treated patients, contrasting with rodent studies.
Conclusions:
- Fenofibrate induces specific mitochondrial alterations in the liver of hyperlipoproteinemia patients, varying by HLP type.
- These findings highlight fenofibrate's impact on cellular energy metabolism in the liver.
- The study suggests that fenofibrate's effects on liver mitochondria in humans differ from those observed in rodents, particularly regarding peroxisomes.