title: Stimulation of human albumin synthesis and gene expression by growth hormone treatment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In this study the effects of acute (5 h) and short-term (5 days) GH treatment on albumin synthesis rates in man were investigated and related to changes in the availability of hepatic albumin mRNA.
  
  
  METHODS
  30 patients undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy were randomized into controls (n=10) or GH-treatment (12 U/dose) for 5 h or 5 days (n=10 in each group). Albumin mRNA levels (in liver biopsy specimens) were measured employing a quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay developed specifically for this purpose, whereas albumin synthesis was measured using [(2)H(5)]phenylalanine.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The fractional synthesis rate of albumin was 6.0+/-0.9 %/day in the control group and 8.0+/-1.8 %/day and 8.3+/-1.7 %/day in the GH-treated groups, respectively (P<0.05 vs controls in both cases). The corresponding values for the concentration of albumin mRNA were 2.6+/-1.1 ng/microg total RNA, 2.9+/-0.8 ng/microg total RNA (NS) and 4.7+/-1.8 ng/microg total RNA in the "GH 5" group (P<0.01 vs controls). The changes in albumin synthesis were only partly explained by the differences in hepatic albumin mRNA levels (r=0.5, P<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that GH may induce a quick, gene expression-independent increase in albumin synthesis, which is sustained by a later-occurring increase in albumin gene expression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, K32, Huddinge University Hospital, S-14186 Huddinge, Sweden.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Barle
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Råhlén
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Essén
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: McNurlan
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Garlick
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Holgersson
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wernerman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000418:Albumins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007553:Isotope Labeling; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010649:Phenylalanine / Q000032:analysis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000418:Albumins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D010649:Phenylalanine; D013006:Growth Hormone