title: Quantitation of apolipoprotein E mRNA in the liver and peripheral tissues of nonhuman primates.
abstract: A sensitive DNA-excess solution hybridization assay was used to quantitate apo-E mRNA in the liver and peripheral tissues of two nonhuman primates, Macaca fascicularis and Cercopithecus aethiops. When expressed on the basis of total RNA, apo-E mRNA values for M. fascicularis adrenal, brain, testis, and spleen ranged from 17-52% of the liver value. Apo-E mRNA values for mesenteric lymph node, kidney, thymus, and skeletal muscle were 1-5% of the liver value. When expressed on a cellular basis, apo-E mRNA was most abundant in the liver at approximately 1200 molecules/cell. Peripheral tissues showed a continuous range of apo-E mRNA from 1.5 molecules/cell in the thymus up to 350 molecules/cell in the brain. Similar results were obtained with peripheral tissues from C. aethiops in which case apo-E mRNA also was found in skin, lung, skeletal muscle, small intestine, and vascular tissues such as heart, aorta, and brachial artery. Calculation of the total apo-E mRNA/organ showed that most of the apo-E mRNA was present in the liver. However, summation of apo-E mRNA in peripheral tissues indicated that 20-40% of total body apo-E mRNA was extrahepatic. This results indicates that apo-E made in peripheral tissues may play a quantitatively important role in cholesterol metabolism since peripheral tissues have the potential to contribute a significant fraction of plasma apo-E.
authors.forename: T C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Newman
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Dawson
authors.forename: L L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Rudel
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics*; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D004247:DNA; D004720:Endonucleases; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000032:analysis; D008099:Liver / Q000032:analysis; D008252:Macaca fascicularis; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D008297:Male; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000032:analysis; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis*; D015719:Single-Strand Specific DNA and RNA Endonucleases; D013154:Spleen / Q000032:analysis; D013737:Testis / Q000032:analysis; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D004247:DNA; D004720:Endonucleases; D015719:Single-Strand Specific DNA and RNA Endonucleases