Background/aims: The aim of this study was to explain the molecular basis for elevated concentrations of circulating triglycerides (TAGs) after partial surgical removal of adipose tissue (lipectomy) in rats.
Methods: The levels of mRNA and protein: a) involved in synthesis of fatty acids and TAGs; b) participating in TAG-rich lipoproteins assembly and secretion; and c) transcription factors essential for maintaining TAG homeostasis were determined by RT-PCR and Western Blot in the livers of control and lipectomized rats.
Results: Partial lipectomy was associated with increase: a) in serum and liver concentration of TAGs, and b) in the liver levels of mRNA of microsomal TAG transfer protein (MTP) and apolipoprotein B-100 (ApoB- 100). These changes were tightly associated with up-regulation of Hnf1a and Hnf4a gene expression in the liver. Lipectomy was also reflected by a significant increase in the expression of genes encoding: a) fatty acid synthase (FASN), b) glycerol 3-phosphate acyltransferase 1 (GPAT1), diacylglycerol acyltransferases 1 and 2 (DGAT1 and DGAT2), c) spot 14 protein (S14) and SREBP-1 in the liver.
Conclusion: Coordinated up-regulation of Mttp, Apob, Hnf1a, Hnf4a, Fasn, Gpam and Dgat (1 and 2) gene expressions may contribute to the increase in circulating and liver concentrations of TAGs after lipectomy in an experimental rat model.
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