[Hypoxia inducible factor 1-alpha mRNA expression in alcoholic liver disease].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of hypoxia on chronic alcoholic liver disease.


METHODS
Twenty four male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly into two groups. The alcohol group (n=12) was fed 56% (v/v) of ethanol once per day by gastric infusion at 8 g/kg body weight for 24 weeks. The control group (n=12) was gastrically infused with normal saline with the same dose. At the end of 24 weeks, a blood sample was collected for determination of hepatic enzymes and then the rat was killed. Liver specimens were obtained for immunohistochemical staining and frozen at -80 degrees C used for RT-PCR.


RESULTS
Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activity increased significantly compared to the control group. A significant elevation in the expression of HIF1-alpha in liver of alcohol group was found compared to the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
Hypoxia inducible factor 1-alpha expression was activated by ethanol-induced injury. This information suggested that hypoxia was involved in mechanism of alcoholic liver disease.
Digestive Department, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China.
Shao-Hua
SH
Chen
Chao-Hui
CH
Yu
You-Ming
YM
Li
D000818:Animals; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D051793:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit; D008108:Liver Diseases, Alcoholic / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C497444:Hif1a protein, rat; D051793:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014157:Transcription Factors