Sex-dependent effect of liver growth factor on atherosclerotic lesions and fatty liver disease in apolipoprotein E knockout mice.
Since the hepatic mitogen, liver growth factor (LGF), improves vascular structure and function in a hypertensive rat model and exhibits antioxidant activity, it may play a role in the development of atherosclerosis.



To test this hypothesis, 14 male and 11 female apolipoprotein E (apoE)-deficient mice with a C57BL/6J genetic background were injected intraperitoneally twice a week with 1.7 microg of LGF per mouse for ten weeks. Plasma carbohydrates, inflammatory and lipid parameters, apolipoproteins A-I and A-II and paraoxonase activity were assessed at the end of the experimental period. Histological and chemical analyses of the livers and quantification of aortic atherosclerotic lesions were also carried out.



LGF administration changed neither plasma lipid nor inflammatory parameters. ApoA-I and arylesterase activity were not affected by LGF either, while apoA-II decreased significantly in males but not in females. Plasma apoA-II correlated positively with liver fat in males but negatively in females. Atherosclerotic area lesions in males receiving LGF were 25% lower than in control mice. Likewise, a significant reduction of fatty liver disease was also observed in males in association with decreased levels of insulin, leptin and resistin.



These results indicate that administration of LGF modulates atherosclerotic lesions in a sex-dependent manner. This effect is independent of plasma cholesterol, triglycerides, IL-6, MCP-1 and TNF-alpha and is related to a remodelling of HDL particles characterised by a decrease in apoA-II induced by changes in hepatic mRNA expression. Hence, LGF administration could be used as a safe alternative to control fatty liver disease and atherosclerosis in males.
Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular y Celular, Instituto Aragonés de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Zaragoza-Dirección Salud del Gobierno de Aragón, Spain.
Joaquín C
JC
Surra
Natalia
N
Guillén
Cristina
C
Barranquero
José M
JM
Arbonés-Mainar
María A
MA
Navarro
Sonia
S
Gascón
Carmen
C
Arnal
Javier
J
Godino
Mario A
MA
Guzmán
Juan J
JJ
Díaz-Gil
Jesús
J
Osada
D000818:Animals; D016633:Apolipoprotein A-II / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000075462:Serum Albumin, Human; D012727:Sex Characteristics
D016633:Apolipoprotein A-II; D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D001786:Blood Glucose; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012709:Serum Albumin; C053498:albumin-bilirubin complex; D001663:Bilirubin; D000075462:Serum Albumin, Human