title: Altered expression of both β-carotene 15,15' monooxygenase and lecithin:retinol acyltransferase in obese Zucker rats.
abstract: Retinol and its active derivative retinoic acid have an important role in development, reproduction, immunity, and cell proliferation/differentiation. Obesity and dyslipidemia are risk factors for cardiovascular disease that may affect hepatic homeostasis. It is unclear whether the expression of retinol-related proteins is affected and influences the retinol status in obesity and dyslipidemia. The aim of this study was to evaluate the retinol status and expression of retinol-metabolizing enzymes and binding protein in obese and dyslipidemic fa/fa (Zucker) rats. We examined the expression of genes for β-carotene 15,15' monooxygenase (BCM), lecithin:retinol acyltransferase (LRAT), cellular retinol binding protein-I (CRBP-I), and cytochrome P450 26A1 (CYP26A1) in fa/fa rats and lean control rats. We also measured the retinol level in plasma and liver samples from both groups. Plasma retinol levels in fa/fa rats were increased compared with lean rats, while hepatic retinol levels were similar in both groups. In obese and dyslipidemic fa/fa rats, intestinal BCM gene expression was increased, whereas hepatic LRAT gene expression was deceased. There was no difference in hepatic CRBP-I and CYP26A1 gene expression between fa/fa rats and lean rats. Altered expression of BCM and LRAT genes may affect plasma retinol status in obesity and dyslipidemia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Osaka Medical College, Takatsuki, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Kimitaka
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takitani
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Miyazaki
authors.forename: Shinya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fukunishi
authors.forename: Ryuzo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Takaya
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yoden
authors.forename: Kazuhide
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Higuchi
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tamai
mesh_terms: D000217:Acyltransferases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D015870:Gene Expression; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011924:Rats, Zucker; D054840:Retinol-Binding Proteins, Cellular / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood*; D050559:beta-Carotene 15,15'-Monooxygenase / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D054840:Retinol-Binding Proteins, Cellular; D014801:Vitamin A; D050559:beta-Carotene 15,15'-Monooxygenase; D000217:Acyltransferases; C056942:lecithin-retinol acyltransferase