A Novel Decrease of Mrp3 Protein in Liver of β-Thalassemic Mouse.

Background: Hepatocytes have a fundamental system of efflux proteins that protect cells from toxic insults. Unconjugated bilirubin at higher concentration is toxic to cells and its intracellular accumulation is limited by the induction of efflux proteins such as Mrp3. In vivo studies showed an induction of hepatic Mrp3 expression in response to non-hemolytic hyperbilirubinemia as a compensatory mechanism to reduce UCB toxicity. Study Design: In the present study, we analyzed the hepatic Mrp3 expression profile during hemolytic hyperbilirubinemia. We used β-thalassemic mouse and WT rodents treated with phenylhydrazine as an animal model of chronic and acute hemolysis, respectively. Results: Unexpectedly, Mrp3 protein was 75% down-regulated in β-thalassemic mouse although Mrp3 mRNA was normal. Mrp3 mRNA was significantly induced in PHZ treated animals while again; Mrp3 protein was 60% down-regulated. Conclusion: For the first time we observed a clear down-regulation for hepatic Mrp3 protein that linked to hemolysis, not to bilirubin. We hypothesize that a similar decrease for hepatic Mrp3 proteins is occur in hemolytic patients such as β-thalassemia.

Alcohol induced liver disease: from molecular damage to treatment

Although the interaction between alcohol and the liver has been the subject of intensive investigation since many years, several uncertainties remain to be solved. Good examples of what we need to learn are: The real number of patients with alcohol-induced liver disease (AILD), the dose of alcohol "safe" for the liver, the genetic predisposition to the damage or, on the other side of the coin, protecting from the damage. Rather recently, however, part of these questions started to be clarified, thus permitting a better definition of the role of each of these factors in AILD. In parallel to the clinical approach to AILD, the unveiling of the molecular and biochemical mechanisms involved in AILD has progressed and proved to be important in both a better understanding of the disease and, more important, in a more rational treatment of these disorders. This review will focus on what we currently know of AILD in clinical, biochemical and molecular terms and what we need to address in the future