09%, splenectomy 5.45 ± 3.69%, P < 0.01; preneoplastic lesion size: sham 6.56 ± 3.68 ×106 µm2/cm2, splenectomy 4.63 ± 3.27 ×106 µm2/cm2, P < 0.05; the number of preneoplastic lesions: sham 8.33 ± 3.96/cm2, splenectomy 5.17 ± 1.80/cm2,
P < 0.01; α-smooth muscle actin-positive area: sham 4.41 ± 2.48%, splenectomy 2.75 ± 1.66%, P < 0.01) On the other hand, liver triglycerides and essential fatty acids were significantly increased in the splenectomy group (liver triglycerides: sham 182 ± 35.0 mg/g, splenectomy NVP-BGJ398 230 ± 35.0 mg/g, P < 0.05; liver linoleic acid: sham 17.2 ± 4.9 mg/g, splenectomy 23.3 ± 6.9 mg/g, P < 0.05; liver α-linolenic acid: sham 118 ± 36.6 µg/g, splenectomy 162 ± 51.4 µg/g, P < 0.05). In addition, expressions of hepatic fatty acid metabolism-related genes (e.g. acyl-CoA oxidase, liver carnitine palmitoyl-CoA transferase I, cytochrome P450 4A, long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase and medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase) were significantly inhibited in the splenectomy group. Conclusion: These findings suggest that spleen plays an important regulatory role in the fibrosis, preneoplastic lesion and lipid metabolism of liver in a rat choline-deficient
L-amino acid model. “
“Scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-BI) is a high-density lipoprotein (HDL) receptor highly expressed in the liver and modulating HDL metabolism. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is able to directly interact with SR-BI and requires this receptor to efficiently enter into hepatocytes to establish productive infection. A complex interplay between EPZ-6438 cost lipoproteins, SR-BI and HCV envelope glycoproteins has
been reported to take place during this process. SR-BI has been demonstrated to act during binding and postbinding steps of HCV entry. Although the SR-BI determinants involved in HCV binding have been partially characterized, the postbinding function of SR-BI find more remains largely unknown. To uncover the mechanistic role of SR-BI in viral initiation and dissemination, we generated a novel class of anti–SR-BI monoclonal antibodies that interfere with postbinding steps during the HCV entry process without interfering with HCV particle binding to the target cell surface. Using the novel class of antibodies and cell lines expressing murine and human SR-BI, we demonstrate that the postbinding function of SR-BI is of key impact for both initiation of HCV infection and viral dissemination. Interestingly, this postbinding function of SR-BI appears to be unrelated to HDL interaction but to be directly linked to its lipid transfer function. Conclusion: Taken together, our results uncover a crucial role of the SR-BI postbinding function for initiation and maintenance of viral HCV infection that does not require receptor-E2/HDL interactions. The dissection of the molecular mechanisms of SR-BI–mediated HCV entry opens a novel perspective for the design of entry inhibitors interfering specifically with the proviral function of SR-BI.