Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts: Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound   Target Concepts: Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound

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Query: UMLS:C0015695 (fatty liver)
13,941 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Rats fed a choline deficient diet develop foci of enzyme-altered hepatocytes with subsequent formation of hepatic tumors. This is the only nutritional deficiency that, in itself, causes cancer. We suggested that carcinogenesis is triggered, in part, because of abnormalities in cell signals which regulate cell proliferation and cell death. Because choline deficient rats develop fatty liver (choline is needed for hepatic secretion of certain lipoproteins), we examined whether an important lipid second messenger involved in proliferative signaling, 1,2-sn-diacylglycerol, accumulated in liver and resulted in the prolonged activation of protein kinase C. We observed that 1,2-sn-diacylglycerol accumulated in the plasma membrane from the non-tumor portion of livers of rats fed a choline deficient diet, and that unsaturated free fatty acids, another activator of protein kinase C, also accumulated in deficient livers. Protein kinase C in the hepatic plasma membrane and nucleus of choline deficient rats was elevated for months; this is the only model system which exhibits such prolonged activation of protein kinase C. Premalignant, abnormal hepatic foci were detected only in the deficient rats, and 15% of deficient rats (none of the controls) had hepatocellular carcinoma at 1 year on the diet. In rats, an early event in choline deficiency is an increase in the rate of cell death. In liver from choline deficient rats, we observed an increase in the numbers of liver cells with fragmented DNA (characteristic of programmed cell death; apoptosis). We used a cell culture model (immortalized rat hepatocytes) to study the effects of choline deficiency on apoptosis. Liver cells grown in a choline deficient medium became depleted of choline, accumulated triacylglycerol and 1,2-sn-diacylglycerol, and had increased DNA fragmentation and other morphologic and biochemical changes associated with apoptosis. This model has great potential as a tool for studying the underlying link between choline deficiency and the regulation of the balance between cell proliferation and cell death. We suggest that choline deficiency altered the cell proliferation signals mediated by protein kinase C within liver, and altered cell apoptosis. These changes in cell signaling may be the triggering events which result in hepatic carcinogenesis.
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PMID:Choline and hepatocarcinogenesis in the rat. 764 29

Thus, the pathologic consequences of feeding a CD diet are fatty liver, liver cell death, liver cell proliferation, and liver cell cancer. The fatty liver with CD is similar to that with other types of fatty liver in that the most attractive current hypothesis is based on some interference with the production and output of VLDL by the liver. The induction of cell death appears to be consistent with quite a different hypothesis, genesis and/or increase in liver free radicals leading to both acute necrosis and initiation of carcinogenesis. Especially noteworthy is the low incidence of liver cirrhosis, even after 2 years of exposure to the CD diet. The feeding of the CD diet reproducibly induces severe and persistent fatty liver coupled with extensive cell death, a combination that is frequently considered to be appropriate for the induction of "micronodular" (fatty) cirrhosis in humans. The findings with the LD diet, the high incidence of cirrhosis, with severe persistent fatty liver without significant cell death, together with the low incidence of cirrhosis with the CD diet, stand out as unpredictable and strange, according to current concepts of the pathogenesis of human cirrhosis. The CD model offers an unusual opportunity to explore in increasing detail the possible roles of free radicals in two important problems in pathology and medicine-acute cell injury and neoplasia. The challenges include mechanistic studies on how the free radicals are generated and how they relate to the biological consequences. The relatively slow sequential changes in the induction of cell injury and neoplasia makes the CD model one of the best for mechanistic studies relating to free radicals.
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PMID:Choline deficiency, lipotrope deficiency and the development of liver disease including liver cancer: a new perspective. 768 Jul 28

Liver fatty acid binding protein (L-FABP), a cytoplasmic 14 kDa protein previously termed Z protein, is conventionally considered to be an intracellular carrier of fatty acids in rat hepatocytes. The following evidence now indicates that L-FABP is also a specific mediator of mitogenesis of rat hepatocytes: a. the synergy between the action of L-FABP and unsaturated fatty acids, especially linoleic acid, in the promotion of cell proliferation; b. the specific requirement for L-FABP in induction of mitogenesis by two classes of nongenotoxic hepatocarcinogenic peroxisome proliferators (amphipathic carboxylates and tetrazole-substituted acetophenones); c. the direct correlation between the binding avidities of different prostaglandins for L-FABP and their relative growth inhibitory activities toward cultured rat hepatocytes; d. the temporal coincidences between the covalent binding to L-FABP by chemically reactive metabolites of the genotoxic carcinogens, 2-acetylaminofluorene and aminoazo dyes, and their growth inhibitions of hepatocytes during liver carcinogenesis in rats; e. and f. the marked elevations of L-FABP in rat liver during mitosis in normal and regenerating hepatocytes, and during the entire cell cycle in the hyperplastic and malignant hepatocytes that are produced by the genotoxic carcinogens, 2-acetylaminofluorene and aminoazo dyes. These actions of L-FABP are consistent with those of a protein involved in regulation of hepatocyte multiplication. Discovery that L-FABP, the target protein of the two types of genotoxic carcinogens, is required for the mitogenesis induced by two classes of nongenotoxic carcinogens points to a common process by which both groups of carcinogens promote hepatocyte multiplication. The implication is that during tumor promotion of liver carcinogenesis, these genotoxic and nongenotoxic carcinogens modify the normal process by which L-FABP, functioning as a specific receptor of unsaturated fatty acids or their metabolites, promotes the multiplication of hepatocytes.
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PMID:Modulation of mitogenesis by liver fatty acid binding protein. 771 94

Effects of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) (aspirin) on the pathogenesis of fatty liver, cirrhosis and hepatocarcinogenesis caused by a choline-deficient L-amino acid-defined (CDAA) diet were examined in male Fischer 344 rats fed a CDAA diet supplemented with 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4 or 0.8% ASA for 30 weeks. ASA at concentrations of > 0.2% prevented the development of both cirrhosis and preneoplastic and neoplastic nodules, but without any directly associated prevention of fatty changes. ASA also prevented hepatocyte proliferation and the generation of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine caused by feeding the CDAA diet, analyzed, respectively, after 1, 12 and 12 weeks. The results clearly indicate that the anti-inflammatory drug ASA, which is not a lipotropic factor, can prevent the pathogenesis of cirrhosis and hepatocarcinogenesis caused by a CDAA diet, which is possibly partly associated with the prevention of reactive oxygen species production.
Carcinogenesis 1994 Jun
PMID:Prevention by acetylsalicylic acid of liver cirrhosis and carcinogenesis as well as generations of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances caused by a choline-deficient, L-amino acid-defined diet in rats. 802 Jan 68

Effects of inhibitors of arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism on the development of fatty liver, cirrhosis, glutathione-S-transferase placental form (GST-P)-positive nodules and the generation of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), caused by a choline-deficient, L-amino acid-defined (CDAA) diet, were examined in male Fischer 344 rats by feeding CDAA diets supplemented with the inhibitors for 12 and 30 weeks. Acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) (at doses of 0.1 and 0.2%) and p-bromophenacylbromide (BPB) (0.1 and 0.2%) were used as inhibitors of, respectively, cyclo-oxygenase and phospholipase A2, and quercetin (QU) (0.75 and 1.5%) and nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) (0.1 and 0.2%) as inhibitors of lipoxygenase. None of the inhibitors affected the development of fatty liver caused by the CDAA diet. ASA at a doe of 0.2% almost completely prevented the appearance of cirrhosis, GST-P-positive nodules, 8-OHdG and TBARS in seven out of 11 (63.7%) rats. BPB at a dose of 0.2% also exerted inhibitory effects on all of these lesions but to a lesser extent than ASA. QU and NDGA exerted inhibitory effects limited to the GST-P-positive nodule case. The results indicate that a perturbed AA metabolism, particularly of the cyclo-oxygenase pathway, derived secondarily from depletion of labile methyl groups or phosphatidylcholine, might play key roles in the cirrhosis, hepatocarcinogenesis and oxidative stress caused by a CDAA diet. The results also indicated a possible involvement of the lipoxygenase pathway in hepatocarcinogenic processes.
Carcinogenesis 1996 Mar
PMID:Inhibition by acetylsalicylic acid, a cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor, and p-bromophenacylbromide, a phospholipase A2 inhibitor, of both cirrhosis and enzyme-altered nodules caused by a choline-deficient, L-amino acid-defined diet in rats. 863 Nov 32

Effects of N,N'-diphenyl-p-phenylenediamine (DPPD), an antioxidant, on liver carcinogenesis caused by a choline-deficient L-amino acid-defined (CDAA) diet containing ethionine were studied in Fischer 344 rats. Male animals, 6 weeks old, were fed a CDAA diet, a choline-supplemented L-amino acid-defined (CSAA) diet or a CDAA diet containing 0.05% ethionine with or without 0.2% DPPD. Histological changes and lesions positive for gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) were analyzed 12 weeks after the beginning of the experiment. The levels of 8-hydroxyguanine (8-OHGua) in DNA and 2-thiobarbituric acid-reacting substances (TBARS) were measured as the parameters for cellular oxidative damage after 4 and 11 days of treatment. Expression of c-myc and c-Ha-ras was also investigated in relation to cell proliferation after 2, 4, 8 and 11 days. Histologically, development of diffuse fatty liver observed in rats fed a CDAA diet was inhibited, while massive oval cell proliferation and cholangiofibrosis resulted from the addition of ethionine with/without DPPD. The sizes but not numbers of GGT-positive lesions seen in the liver of rats fed a CDAA diet were increased and the levels of 8-OHGua formation and TBARS generation were also increased by the ethionine supplement. Both numbers and sizes of GGT-positive lesions were decreased and the level of TBARS, but not 8-OHGua, was decreased by adding DPPD. The increased expression of c-myc and c-Ha-ras detected in the liver of rats fed a CDAA diet was further increased by addition of ethionine and again reduced by DPPD. These results indicate that an antioxidant DPPD can inhibit the early stage of enhanced hepatocarcinogenesis caused by coadministration of ethionine and a CDAA diet, by blocking cellular oxidative damage as well as c-myc and c-Ha-ras expression.
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PMID:Inhibitory effects of N,N'-diphenyl-p-phenylenediamine on the early stage of the enhanced hepatocarcinogenesis caused by coadministration of ethionine and a choline-deficient L-amino acid-defined diet in rats. 881 Dec 95

Previously, we have reported that aspirin, a cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitor, can prevent the fibrosis, cirrhosis and generation of oxidative DNA damage, and the associated development of glutathione-S-transferase placental form (GST-P)-positive preneoplastic liver nodules, caused by a choline-deficient, L-amino acid-defined (CDAA) diet in rats. In the present study, in order to elucidate the role of COX pathway in liver lesion-induction by a CDAA diet, the modulatory effects of other distinct chemical classes of COX inhibitors were examined. A long-acting example, piroxicam (PIRO) (at doses of 0.01, 0.02, 0.04 and 0.06%) and the short-acting ibuprofen (IBU) (at doses of 0.02, 0.04 and 0.06%) and indomethacin (IND) (at doses of 0.005 and 0.008%) were administered in the CDAA diet to male F344 rats, and animals were killed after 12 and 30 weeks. In another experiment, IND was given in drinking water at doses of 0.001, 0.002 and 0.004%. None of the inhibitors affected the development of fatty liver caused by a CDAA diet, but PIRO at doses higher than 0.04%, strongly inhibited the development of GST-P-positive and neoplastic nodules as well as fibrosis, cirrhosis and formation of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) adducts. IBU at the highest dose also exhibited similar but much less pronounced inhibitory effects. With IND, there was only a tendency for inhibition with no clear dose-dependence. The results together with our previous findings, indicate that relatively strong COX inhibitors, acting irreversibly like aspirin or for extended periods like PIRO, can prevent the endogenous hepatocarcinogenesis associated with a CDAA diet, although not the development of a fatty liver, suggesting that an augmented COX pathway might play key roles in the causation of liver lesions in this model.
Carcinogenesis 1997 Oct
PMID:Inhibition by piroxicam of oxidative DNA damage, liver cirrhosis and development of enzyme-altered nodules caused by a choline-deficient, L-amino acid-defined diet in rats. 936 1

Carcinogenesis may be effected not only through exposure to exogenous stimuli but also by genetic and epigenetic influences derived from endogenous factors. In the latter case, the mechanisms are still largely obscure because of the limited availability of appropriate in vivo experimental models. However, continuous feeding of a diet deficient in choline and methionine is well known to cause hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) in rats in the absence of any known exogenous carcinogens and can serve as a good research model. A semi-synthetic, choline-deficient, L-amino acid-defined (CDAA) diet, containing practically no choline and low methionine, induces HCC with a background of fatty liver and hepatocyte death, subsequent regeneration and fibrosis resulting in cirrhosis. Using the CDAA diet, we have revealed the participation of oxidative injury to DNA and other subcellular components and of alteration in intrahepatic signal transduction pathways in the mechanisms underlying this rat liver carcinogenesis model. In the present paper, the current understanding of endogenous rat liver carcinogenesis, due to dietary choline deficiency, is reviewed.
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PMID:Endogenous liver carcinogenesis in the rat. 1063 23

Diethylphthalate and dimethylphthalate are used as phthalate plasticizers, in an extensive array of products. The chronic dermal toxicity of diethylphthalate was evaluated in male and female F344/N rats and B6C3F1 mice in 2-year studies. In a series of special studies, the tumor initiation or promotion potential of diethylphthalate or dimethylphthalate was evaluated in male Swiss (CD-1(R)) mice by an initiation/promotion model of skin carcinogenesis. The genetic toxicity of diethylphthalate and dimethylphthalate in Salmonella typhimurium and cultured Chinese hamster ovary cells was also evaluated. 4-WEEK STUDY IN F344/N RATS: Groups of 10 male and 10 female rats were dermally administered diethylphthalate at volumes of 0, 37.5, 75, 150, or 300 &mgr;L (0, 46, 92, 184, or 369 &mgr;g) applied neat, 5 days per week for 4 weeks. All male and female rats survived to the end of the study. No evidence of dermatotoxicity was observed, with no adverse clinical signs observed and no effects on weight gain or feed consumption. Relative liver weights of 300 &mgr;L males and females and 150 &mgr;L females were greater than those of controls. Relative kidney weights of 150 and 300 &mgr;L males and 150 &mgr;L females were greater than those of controls. No other adverse effects were observed in this study. 4-WEEK STUDY IN B6C3F1 MICE: Groups of 10 male and 10 female mice were dermally administered diethylphthalate at volumes of 0, 12.5, 25, 50, or 100 &mgr;L (0, 15, 31, 62, or 123 &mgr;) applied neat, five days per week for 4 weeks. One control female died before the end of the study; all other mice survived. No evidence of dermatotoxicity or other adverse clinical signs were observed, and no clear adverse effects on weight gain or feed consumption were seen. Absolute and relative liver weights of 25 and 100 &mgr;L females were greater than those of the controls. Based on these 4-week study results, doses of 0, 35, and 100 &mgr;L diethylphthalate were recommended for the 2-year mouse studies. A chronic study in male and female B6C3F1 mice at 0, 35, and 100 &mgr;L (applied neat, once per day, 5 days per week) was started and subsequently stopped after 32 weeks when significant body weight reductions were noted in treated animals (males and females, 100 &mgr;L groups: 19% lower; males, 35 &mgr;L group: 12% lower; females, 35 &mgr;L group: 10% lower than controls). Based on these body weight reductions, doses of 0, 7.5, 15, and 30 &mgr;L in 100 &mgr;L acetone were recommended for the restart of the 2-year mouse study. 2-YEAR STUDY IN F344/N RATS: Based upon the results of the 4-week study, doses of 0, 100, or 300 &mgr;L diethylphthalate (0, 123, or 369 &mgr;) were chosen for the 2-year rat study. Groups of 60 male and 60 female rats received the doses applied neat 5 days per week for 103 weeks and up to 10 animals per group were evaluated after 15 months. Survival, Body Weights, and Clinical Findings: Survival of dosed rats during the first 15 months was similar to that of controls. However, 2-year survival was significantly reduced in all groups of male rats (survival probabilities, males: 0 &mgr;L, 8%; 100 &mgr;L, 12%; and 300 &mgr;L, 12%). The mean body weights of 300 &mgr;L males were slightly less than those of the controls throughout the study. No adverse clinical signs were observed, including no evidence of dermatotoxicity. Pathology Findings: No morphological evidence of dermal or systemic toxicity was observed in male or female rats. Skin neoplasms were not observed in female rats and were only rarely observed in male rats. A high incidence of anterior pituitary adenoma occurred in all groups of male and female rats. The incidence of anterior pituitary adenomas in the 0, 100, and 300 &mgr;L groups were: males, 39/44, 41/49, 41/49; females, 38/50, 33/49, 33/48. The incidence of this benign tumor in control males (84%) exceeded the historical control mean incidence [feed controls, (28.7%)] and range (12% to 60%). Anterior pituitary adenomas were considered a primary contributing factor in the increased mortality observed in all grtor in the increased mortality observed in all groups, regardless of treatment. A dose-related decreasing trend in the incidence of mammary gland fibroadenomas was observed in female rats (21/50, 12/48, 7/50). The incidence of mononuclear cell leukemia in male rats in this study was lower than the historical incidence and may be attributable to the shortened life span of male rats. Similarly, the incidence of interstitial cell tumors of the testes was markedly decreased in all groups of males (4/50, 3/50, 8/50), relative to historical control rates (90.1%; range 74%-98%). The incidence of fatty liver degeneration was notably lower in dosed rats than in controls (males: 26/50, 8/50, 4/51; females: 23/50, 11/50, 3/50). 2-YEAR STUDY IN B6C3F1 MICE: Groups of 60 male and 60 female mice received doses of 0, 7.5, 15, or 30 μL diethylphthalate (0, 9, 18, or 37 μ) in 100 μL acetone 5 days per week for 103 weeks with a 1 week recovery period, and up to 10 animals per group were evaluated after 15 months. Survival, Body Weights, and Clinical Findings: Two-year survival of dosed mice was similar to that of controls: 43/50, 41/48, 46/50, and 43/50 (males), and 41/50, 38/51, 37/49, and 36/49 (females). Mean body weights of dosed male and female mice were similar to those of the controls throughout the study. No adverse clinical signs were observed in mice, including no gross evidence of dermatotoxicity. Feed consumption by male and female mice was similar to or up to 13% greater than that by controls. Pathology Findings: No morphological evidence of dermal toxicity was observed in male or female mice. No skin neoplasms were observed in dosed male mice. In female mice receiving 30 μL, one squamous cell carcinoma and one basal cell carcinoma were seen at the site of application. An increased incidence of liver neoplasms was observed in dosed male and female mice. The incidence of hepatocellular adenoma or carcinoma (combined) in B6C3F1 mice in the 0, 7.5, 15, and 30 μL groups were: (males) 9/50, 14/50, 14/50, and 18/50; (females) 7/50, 16/51, 19/50, and 12/50. The incidence of adenoma or carcinoma (combined) was increased in 30 μL male mice and the incidences of adenoma and of adenoma or carcinoma (combined) were increased in 7.5 and 15 μL females. A positive dose-related trend in the incidence of adenoma or carcinoma (combined) was also observed in male mice. The incidence of basophilic hepatic foci was increased in 15 μL male mice (0/50, 1/50, 9/50, 3/50). The increased incidence of liver neoplasms in this study was considered equivocal because the incidence of hepatocellular neoplasms in control and dosed males was within the historical range and because there was no clear dose-response relationship in females. No other treatment-related findings were observed in this study. 1-YEAR INITIATION/PROMOTION STUDY IN MALE SWISS (CD-1®) MICE: Groups of 50 male mice were dosed dermally with diethylphthalate or dimethylphthalate to study their effect as initiators and promoters. Diethylphthalate and dimethylphthalate were tested as initiators with and without the known skin tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA). Diethyl phthalate and dimethylphthalate were tested as promoters with and without the known skin tumor initiator 7,12-dimethylbenzanthrancene (DMBA). Comparative control groups used during the study of diethylphthalate and dimethylphthalate included: vehicle control (acetone/acetone); initiation/promotion control (DMBA/TPA); initiator control (DMBA/acetone); and promoter control (acetone/TPA). Based on the incidence of skin neoplasms diagnosed histologically and the multiplicity of skin neoplasms, there was no suggestion that either diethylphthalate or dimethylphthalate was able to initiate skin carcinogenesis when chronically promoted by TPA. Further, there was no evidence that either diethylphthalate or dimethylphthalate was able to promote skin carcinogenesis in skin previously initiated with DMBA. High incidences of both squamous cell papillomas and squamous cell carcinomas occurred among the initiation/promotion control animals initiated with DMBA and promoted with TPA. All TPA-dosed groups had significantly greater incidences of dermal acanthosis, ulceration, exudation, and hyperkeratosis than controls. GENETIC TOXICOLOGY: Neither diethylphthalate (10-10,000 μ/plate) nor dimethylphthalate (33-6,666 μ/plate) induced gene mutations in Salmonella typhimurium strains TA98, TA100, TA1535, or TA1537, with or without rat and hamster liver S9. In cultured Chinese hamster ovary cells, both diethylphthalate and dimethylphthalate induced sister chromatid exchanges in the presence of S9. Neither induced sister chromatid exchanges in the absence of S9. Neither chemical induced chromosomal aberrations, with or without S9, in cultured Chinese hamster ovary cells. CONCLUSIONS: Under the conditions of these 2-year dermal studies, there was no evidence of carcinogenic activity of diethylphthalate in male or female F344/N rats receiving 100 or 300 μL. The sensitivity of the male rat study was reduced due to low survival in all groups. There was equivocal evidence of carcinogenic activity of diethylphthalate in male and female B6C3F1 mice based on increased incidences of hepatocellular neoplasms, primarily adenomas. In an initiation/promotion model of skin carcinogenesis, there was no evidence of initiating activity of diethylphthalate or dimethylphthalate in male Swiss (CD-1®) mice. Further, there was no evidence of promotion activity of diethylphthalate or dimethylphthalate in male Swiss (CD-1®) mice. The promoting activity of TPA following DMBA initiation was confirmed in these studies. Minor dermal acanthosis was observed following dermal application of diethylphthalate in male and female F344/N rats dosed for 2 years and in male Swiss (CD-1®) mice dosed for 1 year. Synonyms: Diethylphthalate (CAS No. 84-66-2): 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid, diethyl ester; DEP; diethyl 1,2-benzenedicarboxylate; diethyl o-phthalate; diethyl phthalate; ethyl phthalate; o-benzenedicarboxylic acid diethyl ester; phthalic acid, diethyl ester; RCRA U088 Dimethylphthalate (CAS No. 131-11-3): 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid, dimethyl ester; dimethyl 1,2-benzenedicarboxylate; dimethyl benzene-o-dicarboxylate; dimethyl benzeneorthodicarboxylate; dimethyl o-phthalate; dimethyl phthalate; DMP; FIFRA 028002; methyl phthalate; go-dimethyl phthalate; phthalic acid, dimethyl ester; phthalic acid methyl ester; RCRA U102
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PMID:NTP Toxicology and Carcinogenesis Studies of Diethylphthalate (CAS No. 84-66-2) in F344/N Rats and B6C3F1 Mice (Dermal Studies) with Dermal Initiation/ Promotion Study of Diethylphthalate and Dimethylphthalate (CAS No. 131-11-3) in Male Swiss (CD-1(R)) Mice. 1261 2

MeCP2 is a member of a family of proteins [methyl- (cytosine-guanine)CpG-binding proteins] that bind specifically to methylated DNA and induce chromatin remodeling and gene silencing. Dietary deficiency of folate, choline and methionine causes decreased tissue S-adenosylmethionine concentrations (methyl deficiency), global DNA hypomethylation, hepatic steatosis, cirrhosis and ultimately hepatic tumorigenesis in rodents. We investigated the effects of this diet on expression of MeCP2 during pre-neoplastic transformation of liver tissue. After 9 weeks, MeCP2 mRNA level was slightly higher in methyl-deficient rats compared with replete controls, while after 36 weeks, a difference in MeCP2 mRNA level was no longer observed. In contrast, MeCP2 protein level was reduced almost 2-fold in the deficient rats compared with replete controls at both 9 and 36 weeks. Conversely, a second methyl-CpG-binding protein, MBD2, showed increased levels of both message and protein at the two time points. Low MeCP2 protein in the deficient rats was associated with a low level of the co-repressor protein, Sin3a, at 36 weeks. Moreover, a known gene target of MeCP2, the tumor suppressor gene metallothionein-I, was over-expressed in the deficient rat livers at both 9 and 36 weeks, suggesting that reduction in MeCP2 may have functional consequences. Methyl deficiency also caused an increase in the ratio of long to short variants of MeCP2 transcripts. This finding suggests that reduced MeCP2 protein level is the result of a reduced rate of translation. Reduction of MeCP2 protein expression may influence the initiation and/or progression of hepatic cancer induced by methyl deficiency and may provide a useful marker of pre-neoplastic change.
Carcinogenesis 2003 Dec
PMID:Methyl deficiency causes reduction of the methyl-CpG-binding protein, MeCP2, in rat liver. 1294 43


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