Subnormal albumin gene expression is associated with weight loss in immunodeficient/DNA-repair-impaired wasted mice.
OBJECTIVE
Mice bearing the autosomal recessive mutation wst express a disease syndrome of immunodeficiency, neurologic dysfunction, increased sensitivity to the killing effects of ionizing radiation, and dramatic weight loss that begins at 21 days of age and progresses until death at 28-32 days of age. Because of the reported association between abnormal liver status and weight loss, we designed experiments to examine expression of a variety of liver-specific genes in wst/wst mice relative to littermates (wst/.) and parental strain (BCF1) controls.


METHODS
Animals were individually weighed from ages 21-28 days to determine relative weight comparisons between wst/wst mice and controls. Dot blot hybridizations were set up to quantitate the accumulation of transcripts specific for alpha-fetoprotein, albumin and other liver-specific gene products.


RESULTS
These results showed a 67% reduction in albumin mRNA expression in livers derived from wst/wst mice relative to both controls. Expression of alpha-fetoprotein, as well as a variety of other liver-specific genes [secretory component (SC), metallothionein (MT-2), cytochrome P1-450 (Cyt P1-450), transferrin receptor (Tf Rec), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and immune-associated antigen (Ia)], was unaffected.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest a relationship between low albumin expression and wasting syndromes in mice. In addition, our data suggest that the wasted mouse may serve as a unique model for subnormal albumin expression.
Libertin
C R
CR
Department of Medicine, Loyola University of Chicago, Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, Illinois 60153.
Weaver
P
P
Mobarhan
S
S
Woloschak
G E
GE
D000818:Animals; D004260:DNA Repair / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D007153:Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / Q000235:genetics*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D015347:RNA Probes; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000235:genetics*; D015431:Weight Loss; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000235:genetics
D015347:RNA Probes; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012709:Serum Albumin; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins