Upregulation of mRNA of retinoid binding protein and fatty acid binding protein by cholesterol enriched-diet and effect of ginger on lipid metabolism.
OBJECTIVE
We investigated whether a cholesterol enriched-diet upregulated mRNA expression of the lipid metabolism related-proteins, retinoid binding protein (RBP), heart fatty acid binding protein (H-FABP), and cutaneous fatty acid binding protein (C-FABP), in liver and adipose tissue, and examined the effect of ginger on the expression of these genes.


METHODS
The male rats were divided into 3 groups. Control rats were fed a standard diet, the cholesterol enriched-diet group (Chs) was fed a cholesterol enriched-diet, and the cholesterol enriched-diet and ginger group (ChGs) was fed a cholesterol enriched-diet and ginger (500 mg/day) diet, respectively for 12 weeks. Each mRNA expression level was measured as the ratio of each gene relative to the beta-actin expression level, using semi-quantitative RT-PCR method.


RESULTS
Cholesterol enriched-diet developed hepatic steatosis with hyperlipidemia and increased RBP mRNA expression in the liver, as well as mRNA expression of RBP, H-FABP, and C-FABP in adipose tissue around the left kidney (P<0.05). This is the first report to show the upregulation of H-FABP mRNA in adipose tissue in hyperlipidemic rats. RBP mRNA was expressed in the liver on ChGs slightly lower than Chs (P=0.078).


CONCLUSIONS
These lipid metabolism genes are important indicators of hyperlipidemia. Ginger tends to reduce RBP mRNA expression levels in the liver and visceral fat in hyperlipidemia, and may improve lipid metabolism.
Matsuda
Akiko
A
Division of Pharmacotherapeutics, Department of Pathophysiological and Therapeutic Science, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, 86 Nishicho, Yonago 683-8503, Japan.
Wang
Zhongzhi
Z
Takahashi
Shunsaku
S
Tokuda
Takahiro
T
Miura
Norimasa
N
Hasegawa
Junichi
J
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary / Q000378:metabolism*; D050556:Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D020939:Zingiber officinale / Q000378:metabolism*; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012177:Retinol-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D015854:Up-Regulation
D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary; D050556:Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012177:Retinol-Binding Proteins