Elevated Synthesis of Human α1-Antitrypsin Hinders the Secretion of Murine α1-Antitrypsin from Hepatocytes of Transgenic Mice

Abstract

α1-Antitrypsin (AAT) is a major hepatic secretory protein. The elevated synthesis of human AAT within hepatocytes of transgenic mice results in its accumulation within a subset of distended cisternae of the rough endoplasmic reticulum. The protein does not accumulate in large insoluble aggregates as is the case for the human PiZ AAT variant. Furthermore, the accumulated protein is not associated with immunoglobulin heavy chain binding protein. Transgenic animals exhibiting an elevated synthesis and subsequent intrahepatic accumulation of human AAT exhibit reduced serum levels of murine AAT as a result of its hindered secretion and accumulation within the rough endoplasmic reticulum. Interestingly, the secretion of murine transferrin and albumin which represent glycosylated and non-glycosylated hepatic secretory proteins, respectively, is unaffected. Overall, these results demonstrate that the elevated synthesis of human AAT can hinder the export of murine AAT from the hepatic rough endoplasmic reticulum in an apparently specific manner.