Differential regulation in the expression of hepatic genes in nephrotic and pair-fed rats

The messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) levels of albumin, fibrinogen, alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (pAGP) and transferrin were analyzed in puromycin aminonucleoside (PAN)-treated (nephrotic) and in pair-fed (PF) rats with the Northern and dot blot hybridization techniques. Albumin mRNA levels in nephrotic and PF rats were 2- and 1.5-fold higher, respectively, than in ad-libitum-fed control (C) rats 6 days after PAN treatment. On day 11, this mRNA in PAN-treated rats was 2.5-fold higher than in PF and 4-fold higher than in C rats. A differential expression at the level of specific mRNAs was also detected for fibrinogen, pAGP, and transferrin in nephrotic and PF rats. On day 6, the fibrinogen and transferrin mRNA levels were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in nephrotic than in PF rats. In contrast, pAGP mRNA levels were normal or low in nephrotic rats and increased 2-fold in PF rats. These studies indicate the differential expression of hepatic genes in nephrotic and PF rats and show that albumin gene expression is only partially regulated by diet during the nephrotic stage of the disease.