[Apolipoprotein A-I, E, C-III and LDL-receptor mRNA expression in liver diseases]

The liver plays a major role in lipid metabolism, and quantitative and or qualitative changes in serum lipoproteins and apolipoproteins have been observed in various liver diseases. We investigated changes in hepatic mRNA expression of apolipoproteins A-I, C-III, and E and LDL receptor in human liver diseases, rat D-galactosamine, CCl4 induced liver failure and regenerating liver. The apolipoprotein mRNA expression were significantly decreased in liver and severe acute hepatitis as compared with controls and were correlated with serum albumin levels. LDL receptor mRNA expression were decreased in liver cirrhosis and rat liver failure. These findings indicated that liver biosynthesis of these apolipoproteins and LDL receptor are suppressed in liver disease. On the other hand, LDL receptor mRNA expression increased in regenerating liver, and this shows that serum cholesterol was needed for membrane biosynthesis.