Original Research
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2001. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Dec 15, 2001; 7(6): 836-840
Published online Dec 15, 2001. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v7.i6.836
Expression of lipopolysaccharide binding protein and its receptor CD14 in experimental alcoholic liver disease
Guo-Qing Zuo, Jian-Ping Gong, Chang-An Liu, Shen-Wei Li, Xin-Chuan Wu, Kang Yang, Yue Li
Guo-Qing Zuo, Department of Digestive Disease, Second College of Clinical Medicine & the Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing University of Medical Sciences, Chongqing 400010, China
Jian-Ping Gong, Chang-An Liu, Shen-Wei Li, Xin-Chuan Wu, Kang Yang, Yue Li, Department of General Surgery, Second College of Clinical Medicine & the Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing University of Medical Sciences, Chongqing 400010, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.39970719).
Correspondence to: Guo-Qing Zuo, Department of Digestive Disease, Second College of Clinical Medicine & the Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing University of Medical Sciences, Chongqing 400010, China. zgqly@public.cta.cq.cn
Telephone: +86-23-62764578, Fax: +86-23-63822815
Received: February 28, 2001
Revised: June 9, 2001
Accepted: June 21, 2001
Published online: December 15, 2001
Abstract

AIM: To evaluate the relationship between the expression of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) binding protein (LBP) and CD14 mRNA and the severity of liver injury in alcohol-fed rats.

METHODS: Twenty Wistar rats were divided into two groups: ethanol-fed group (group E) and control group (group C). Group E was fed with ethanol (5-12 g·kg¯¹·d¯¹) and group C received dextrose instead of ethanol. Rats of the two groups were sacrificed at 4 wk and 8 wk. Levels of endotoxin and alanine transaminase (ALT) in blood were measured, and liver pathology was observed under light and electronic microscopy. Expressions of LBP and CD14 mRNA in liver tissues were determined by RT-PCR analysis.

RESULTS: Plasma endotoxin levels were increased more significantly in group E (129 ± 21) ng·L¯¹ and (187 ± 35) ng·L¯¹ at 4 and 8 wk than in control rats (48 ± 9) ng·L¯¹ and (53 ± 11) ng·L¯¹, respectively (P < 0.05). Mean values of plasma ALT levels were (1867 ± 250) nkat·L¯¹ and (2450 ± 367) nkat·L¯¹ in Group E. The values were increased more dramatically in ethanol-fed rats than in Group C after 4 and 8 wk. In liver section from ethanol-fed rats, there were marked pathological changes (steatosis, cell infiltration and necrosis). In ethanol-fed rats, ethanol administration led to a significant increase in LBP and CD14 mRNA levels compared with the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: Ethanol administration led to a significant increase in endotoxin levels in serum and LBP and CD14 mRNA expressions in liver tissues. The increase of LBP and CD14 mRNA expression might wake the liver more sensitive to endotoxin and liver injury.

Keywords: lipopolysaccharides/analysis; antigens, cd14/analysis; liver diseases; alcoholic/pathology; liver/pathology; liver/ultrastructure; rat; animal