Expression Profile Of Lipid Metabolism-Related Genes In Human Fetus Liver

AimLipids can be used to generate ATP by respiration. They are also very important as energy-storage compounds. Unlike carbohydrates,they also have structural roles in the body, as they are the main component of all cell membranes. Embryogenesis and fetal development are unique processes. Fetus grows at a rate that is unparalleled by that at any ather stage of life. To maintain its rapid growth rate, the fetus requires a significent amount of lipids.The liver is one of the largest organs in the body. 29 % of the blood that is pumped with each heartbeat flows through the liver; a total of 1450cm3 of blood passes through it in one minute. It has an enormous variety of functions involving many different metabolic reactions. The liver plays central role in all aspects of lipid metabolism.The aim of our research is to analyze the expression profile of lipid metabolism-related genes in human fetus liver by cDNA microarray and fluorescent quantitative RT-PCR. MethodsThe observation of the histopathologic section demonstrated that there are no changes in the livers from human fetus (of the first and the third trimester of the gestation) and adult. 33P-labeled cDNA probes were prepared by RT-PCR using mRNA from those livers. The probes were hybridized with human gene chip containing 16,363 clones. Thehybridizing signals were scanned by ELA-300 Plate/Fluorescent Image Analyzer. The differential expressed genes were conformed by fluorescent semi-quantitative PCR. ResultsThe expression of fatty acid decomposation-related genes decreased and the expression of genes associated with fatty acid and cholesterol synthesis increased with the increase of the gestation, among 28 differential expressed genes (at least 2 fold). Measurement of lipids levels in 9 fetal livers showed that the contents of total cholesterol and triglycerides decreased with the increase of the gestation. LDL receptor and LRP mRNA levels measured in fetal livers are increased with the fetus developing. ConclusionsThe synthesis of cholesterol and triglycerides and their levels in fetus livers would decrease as the fetus develops. And mRNA levels of LDLR and LRP are increased.