title: Up-regulation of Hnf1α gene expression in the liver of rats with experimentally induced chronic renal failure - A possible link between circulating PCSK9 and triacylglycerol concentrations.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to verify if an increase in Hnf1α gene expression could be a possible link between circulating proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) and TAGs concentrations in chronic renal failure (CRF).
  
  
  METHODS
  Rats underwent 5/6 nephrectomy or a sham surgery. Liver expressions of Pcsk9, Mttp, ApoB-100, Hnf1α, Hnf4α, lipogenic enzymes and β-actin genes were quantified by qPCR. Liver levels of proteins coding by these genes were analyzed by Western blotting. Serum apoB-100 and PCSK9 concentration were estimated with an immunoassay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CRF rats showed an increase in circulating concentrations of TAGs, VLDL, apoB-100 and PCSK9, along with an enhanced liver VLDL-TAG secretion rate and a coordinated liver up-regulation of genes coding: a) lipogenic enzymes; b) Mttp and ApoB-100; c) Pcsk9; d) Hnf1α and Hnf4α. Positive correlations were found between serum creatinine concentrations and: a) the liver levels of HNF1α mRNA (r = 0.79, p < 0.01) and HNF4α (r = 0.76, p < 0.01); b) the liver levels of PCSK9 mRNA (r = 0.88, p < 0.01) and serum PCSK9 concentrations (r = 0.73, p < 0.01); c) the liver levels of apoB-100 mRNA (r = 0.83, p < 0.01) and serum apoB-100 concentrations (r = 0.87, p < 0.01). Clofibrate treatment was shown to concomitantly decrease the liver levels of HNF1α, HNF4α and PCSK9 mRNA, as well as serum PCSK9, TAGs and total cholesterol concentrations in CRF rats.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results presented are consistent with a cause-effect relationship between the enhanced liver expression of Hnf1α gene and its target genes the products of which are involved in synthesis, assembly and secretion of VLDL, as well as Pcsk9 gene in CRF rats. This may at least in part explain an association between circulating PCSK9 and TAGs in CRF rats and possibly also in humans with chronic kidney disease (CKD).
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Transplantology and Internal Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, Poland. Electronic address: elzsuc@gumed.edu.pl.
authors.forename: Elzbieta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sucajtys-Szulc
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Transplantology and Internal Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, Poland. Electronic address: e.mars@wp.pl.
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Szolkiewicz
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Medical University of Gdansk, Poland. Electronic address: juls@gumed.edu.pl.
authors.forename: Julian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Swierczynski
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Transplantology and Internal Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, Poland. Electronic address: bolo@gumed.edu.pl.
authors.forename: Boleslaw
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rutkowski
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D053299:Apolipoprotein B-100 / Q000378:metabolism; D001835:Body Weight; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D002994:Clofibrate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D051538:Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 1-alpha / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D051557:Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 4 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D007118:Immunoassay; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000378:metabolism*; D008079:Lipoproteins, VLDL / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009392:Nephrectomy; D000071449:Proprotein Convertase 9 / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000378:metabolism*; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D053299:Apolipoprotein B-100; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D051538:Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 1-alpha; D051557:Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 4; C496489:Hnf1a protein, rat; C496594:Hnf4a protein, rat; D008079:Lipoproteins, VLDL; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014280:Triglycerides; C106092:microsomal triglyceride transfer protein; C510804:PCSK9 protein, rat; D000071449:Proprotein Convertase 9; D002994:Clofibrate
keywords: CRF; FASN; HNF1; HNF4; MTP; PCSK9; apoB-100