Function of asialoglycoprotein receptor of hepatocytes in patients with Wilson's disease.
The function of hepatocyte asialoglycoprotein receptors was analyzed in normal subjects, in patients with Wilson's disease and in patients with chronic hepatitis C. A new radionuclide liver imaging, using Technetium-99m diethylenetriamine-pentaacetic acid-galactosyl human serum albumin, was applied to evaluate the function of the receptor, and a Receptor Index, LHL 15, which was calculated by dividing the radioactivity of the liver region-of-interest (ROI) by that of the liver plus heart ROI at 15 min after the radiolabeled ligand injection, was evaluated. The values were similar between the patients with Wilson's disease and patients with chronic hepatitis C. Hepatocyte receptors for asialoglycoproteins were not affected specifically in patients with Wilson's disease, suggesting that the defect in patients with Wilson's disease involves steps other than receptor-mediated endocytosis of asialoceruloplasmin via asialoglycoprotein receptor.
Department of Medicine, Kurume University School of Medicine, Japan.
M
M
Harada
S
S
Sakisaka
S
S
Itano
M
M
Ohishi
I
I
Miyazima
M
M
Yoshitake
M
M
Ishibashi
M
M
Sata
K
K
Tanikawa
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D037263:Asialoglycoprotein Receptor; D001212:Asialoglycoproteins / Q000502:physiology*; D006527:Hepatolenticular Degeneration / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000502:physiology*
D037263:Asialoglycoprotein Receptor; D001212:Asialoglycoproteins; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface