Rates of synthesis of prealbumin and retinol-binding protein during acute inflammation in the rat.

Abstract

The rates of synthesis of prealbumin (PA), retinol-binding protein (RBP), and other plasma proteins were measured in primary monolayer cultures of rat hepatocytes isolated from normal rats and from rats 18 h after induction of an inflammatory reaction by subcutaneous injection of croton oil. The inflammatory pattern of protein synthesis seemed to persist in the isolated hepatocytes for 1-2 days. This pattern included significantly decreased rates of synthesis of PA. The rate of synthesis of RBP was probably also decreased, but significantly less than the rate of PA synthesis. The results support the idea that it is mainly the decreased rate of PA synthesis which is responsible for the decreased plasma concentration of PA, and its ligand RBP and retinol during inflammation.