Cancer cachexia modifies the zonal distribution of lipid metabolism-related proteins in rat liver.
Cancer cachexia is a syndrome that causes profound metabolic disruption. Lipid metabolism in the liver is markedly affected. We investigated the effect of cachexia upon liver-acinus lipid-metabolism zonation in Walker 245 carcinosarcoma-bearing rats (TB). The expression of protein (by Western blotting) and mRNA (by semi-quantitative polymerase chain reaction) of the enzymes of the carnitine palmitoyltransferase system (CPT I and CPT II) and of liver fatty-acid-binding protein (L-FABP) was studied. Although no changes were found for these parameters, the maximal activities (by radioassay) of CPT I and II were reduced (P<0.05) in TB compared with controls. CPT II activity in the perivenous (PV) region was higher in TB compared with controls. The distribution of CPT II and L-FABP (by immunohistochemistry) within the acinus was modified by cachexia: whereas CPT II positivity was restricted to the PV zone, L-FABP labelling shifted from periportal (control) to perivenous (TB) zone. These changes in metabolic zonation, together with decreased CPT II activity, may contribute to the aggravation of cachexia.
Kazantzis
Melissa
M
Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Seelaender
Marília C L
MC
D000818:Animals; D002100:Cachexia / Q000378:metabolism*; D002279:Carcinoma 256, Walker / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002334:Carnitine O-Palmitoyltransferase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D050556:Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology*; D008297:Male; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D002352:Carrier Proteins; C493321:Fabp1 protein, rat; D050556:Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D002334:Carnitine O-Palmitoyltransferase