title: Increased expression and activity of hepatic lipase in the liver of morbidly obese adult patients in relation to lipid content.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The types and sources of lipid deposition in the liver of most patients with morbid obesity, as well as the effects of bariatric surgery, are discussed.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 26 patients with morbid obesity who underwent bariatric surgery, we analyzed different kinds of lipids and hepatic lipase (HL) from both plasma and liver biopsies performed 12-18 months after surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The HL activity and HL-mRNA in morbidly obese (MO) livers were high (258 +/- 17 mU/g, and 4.5-fold, respectively); after surgery, the activity decreased (137 +/- 15 mU/g, p < 0.001) but not the levels of HL-mRNA (4.3-fold). Plasma HL activity was also high (4.31 +/- 0.94 mU/mL plasma), and it decreased during weight loss (2.01 +/- 0.29 mU/mL, p < 0.01); moreover, it correlated (r = 0.3694, p < 0.05) with decreased liver HL activity. Adrenocorticotropic hormone in MO was higher (27 +/- 3 pg/mL) than after surgery (13 +/- 1 pg/mL, p < 0.001). All hepatic and plasma lipids were significantly increased in MO patients, but, after bariatric surgery, most of those parameters recovered or normalized. Liver HL activity correlated with total and esterified cholesterol (r = 0.4399, p < 0.001 and r = 0.4395, p < 0.01, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High HL in MO patients could allow for liver intake of cholesterol that could be re-exported to steroidogenic organs to synthesize steroidal hormones. A decrease of plasma HL during weight loss could be a good index for improvement of liver disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Barcelona, Diagonal 645, 08028, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pardina
authors.forename: Juan A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Baena-Fustegueras
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Catalán
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Galard
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lecube
authors.forename: Jose M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Fort
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Allende
authors.forename: Víctor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vargas
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Peinado-Onsurbe
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000032:analysis; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D015390:Gastric Bypass; D006801:Humans; D008049:Lipase / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000601:surgery; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C504173:LIPC protein, human; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D008049:Lipase