Apolipoprotein AI and apolipoprotein E mRNA expression in peripheral white blood cells from patients with orthotopic liver transplantation.
BACKGROUND
Apolipoprotein AI/apolipoprotein E (apo-AI/apo-E) ratio change and its induction in non-hepatic tissues have been reported during liver development, regeneration, and several pathophysiologic states. The clinical implication of such changes is unclear, but these could reflect recovery and/or severity of liver damage.


RESULTS
Using RT-PCR we analysed the mRNA expression of apo-AI and apo-E in peripheral white blood cells (PWBC) of patients with different liver diseases who underwent orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) and compared its expression with the lipid profile and liver function tests. We found that patients showed higher levels of apo-AI mRNA without detection of apo-E mRNA on PWBC at the preoperative day, compared with healthy volunteers (HV). We found an apo-AI/apo-E mRNA ratio of 2.7 during the anhepatic stage, followed by a decrease to 1.3, 0.95, and 0.55 at days 30, 60, and 90, respectively. At the last time point, the apo-AI/apo-E ratio was similar to HV. At day 3 post-OLT, the lowest levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol (17 mg/dl; P<0.05) and the highest levels of aspartate aminotransferase, total bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase (77.5 IU/l, 37.9 g/dl, 177.8 IU/l, respectively; P<0.05) were detected.


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that changes of HDL-cholesterol and apo-AI/apo-E mRNA ratio could be a good indicator of liver damage and/or hepatic functional recovery post-OLT.
Martínez-López
Erika
E
Department of Molecular Biology in Medicine, Civil Hospital of Guadalajara, and Health Sciences University Center (CUCS), University of Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco, México.
Nuño-González
Patricia
P
Ruiz-Madrigal
Bertha
B
Rodríguez-Sancho
Luis Carlos
LC
Hernández-Nazará
Zamira H
ZH
Segura-Ortega
Jorge Enrique
JE
Panduro
Arturo
A
D000328:Adult; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008115:Liver Regeneration; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000097:blood*; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
C505693:APOA1 protein, human; D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I; D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D001663:Bilirubin