title: The α-tocopherol status and expression of α-tocopherol-related proteins in methionine-choline deficient rats treated with vitamin E.
abstract: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is the most common liver disorder in developed countries, and its incidence is increasing in all population groups. As an antioxidant, vitamin E is effective in the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, although the mechanism is still unclear. Methionine-choline deficient Wistar rats (n = 5) used as an experimental model of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease were fed a vitamin E-enriched diet (500 mg/kg) for 4 weeks. The effects were assessed by measuring lipid peroxidation, α-tocopherol levels, and the expression of α-tocopherol-related proteins in the liver. In vitamin E-treated methionine-choline deficient rats, lipid peroxidation was reduced, but liver histopathological changes were not improved. Hepatic α-tocopherol levels in these rats were significantly elevated compared to normal rats treated with vitamin E. Expression of liver α-tocopherol transfer protein in vitamin E-treated methionine-choline deficient rats was significantly repressed compared to methionine-choline deficient rats. The expression of liver cytochrome P450 4F2 and ATP-binding cassette transporter protein 1, involved in metabolism and transport of α-tocopherol, respectively, was significantly repressed in vitamin E-treated methionine-choline deficient rats. In methionine-choline deficient rats, vitamin E treatment altered the hepatic α-tocopherol-related protein expression, which may affect α-tocopherol status in the liver, leading to reduced lipid peroxidation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Osaka Medical College, 2-7 Daigakumachi, Takatsuki, Osaka 569-8686, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Miyazaki
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Osaka Medical College, 2-7 Daigakumachi, Takatsuki, Osaka 569-8686, Japan.
authors.forename: Kimitaka
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takitani
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Osaka Medical College, 2-7 Daigakumachi, Takatsuki, Osaka 569-8686, Japan.
authors.forename: Maki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koh
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Osaka Medical College, 2-7 Daigakumachi, Takatsuki, Osaka 569-8686, Japan.
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yoden
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Osaka Medical College, 2-7 Daigakumachi, Takatsuki, Osaka 569-8686, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tamai
keywords: antioxidant; non-alcoholic fatty liver disease; α-tocopherol; α-tocopherol transfer protein