Expression of lipopolysaccharide binding protein and its receptor CD14 in experimental alcoholic liver disease.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the relationship between the expression of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) binding protein (LBP) and CD14 mRNA and the severity of liver injury in alcohol-fed rats.


METHODS
Twenty Wistar rats were divided into two groups:ethanol-fed group (group E) and control group (group C). Group E was fed with ethanol(5-12 g x kg(-1) x d(-1)) and group C received dextrose instead of ethanol. Rats of the two groups were sacrificed at 4 weeks and 8 weeks. Levels of endotoxin and alanine transaminase (ALT) in blood were measured, and liver pathology was observed under light and electronic microscopy. Expressions of LBP and CD14 mRNA in liver tissues were determined by RT-PCR analysis.


RESULTS
Plasma endotoxin levels were increased more significantly in group E(129+/-21) ng x L(-1) and (187+/-35) ng x L(-1) at 4 and 8 wk than in control rats(48+/-9) ng x L(-1) and (53+/-11) ng x L(-1), respectively (P<0.05). Mean values of plasma ALT levels were (1867+/-250) nkat x L(-1) and (2450+/-367) nkat x L(-1) in Group E. The values were increased more dramatically in ethanol-fed rats than in Group C after 4 and 8 weeks. In liver section from ethanol-fed rats, there were marked pathological changes (steatosis, cell infiltration and necrosis). In ethanol-fed rats, ethanol administration led to a significant increase in LBP and CD14 mRNA levels compared with the control group (P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Ethanol administration led to a significant increase in endotoxin levels in serum and LBP and CD14 mRNA expressions in liver tissues. The increase of LBP and CD14 mRNA expression might wake the liver more sensitive to endotoxin and liver injury.
Zuo
G Q
GQ
Department of Digestive Disease, Second College of Clinical Medicine & the Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing University of Medical Sciences, Chongqing 400010, China. zgqly@public.cta.cq.cn
Gong
J P
JP
Liu
C A
CA
Li
S W
SW
Wu
X C
XC
Yang
K
K
Li
Y
Y
D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; D000818:Animals; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors / Q000235:genetics*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008108:Liver Diseases, Alcoholic / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D000099231:Lipopolysaccharide-Binding Protein
D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000099231:Lipopolysaccharide-Binding Protein