Calciferin and cathepsin D-like acid protease in serum in acute and chronic liver injuries in rats and humans.
Serum from patients with chronic liver diseases (chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatomas) contained greater concentrations of calciferin (total 1.7-fold, free 3.3-fold) than that from normal subjects. There were also decreases in the concentration and affinity of the calciferin-binding protein(s) in the patients' sera, but the amount of cathepsin D (EC 3.4.23.5)-like acid protease (total and free) was within normal limits. In addition, rats with acute liver injuries (partial hepatectomy or CCl4 administration) showed increases in calciferin and acid protease in their serum. Rats subjected to continuous feeding of 3'-methyl-4-dimethylaminoazobenzene (a potent hepatocarcinogen) also showed an increase of both analytes in the earlier stages (two to eight weeks; acute phase). Later (13 weeks or more; chronic phase), however, only acid protease appeared to return to normal values.
Terayama
H
H
School of Hygienic Sciences, Kitasato University, Kanagawa-ken, Japan.
Shimizu
N
N
Fukuzumi
R
R
D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D002402:Cathepsin D / Q000097:blood*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006498:Hepatectomy; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000293:injuries*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000097:blood*; D008114:Liver Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced; D008297:Male; D008749:Methyldimethylaminoazobenzene; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011921:Rats, Inbred WKY
D010281:Parathyroid Hormone; D008749:Methyldimethylaminoazobenzene; C040861:calciferin; D002402:Cathepsin D