Some relationships between pulmonary prostaglandins and hepatocyte lecithin formation

Abstract

A hepatocyte lipogehic system which uses 14C-acetate as a lipogenic precursor was used. Phosphatidylethanolamine is biosynthesized the most in this newly established in vitro lipogenic system. Cholesterol, triacylglycerols, free fatty acids, lecithin and other phospholipids are also biosynthesized in the system. When a lung mince is added to hepatocytes biosynthesizing lipids from 14C-acetate, an increase in lecithin (PC) formation greater than that of lung mince alone and hepatocyte alone is detected. This study not only supports the concept that the lung has the capacity to stimulate the liver for lecithin synthesis but also indicates that lung minces have the ability to produce a prostaglandin (s) which is/are inhibitory to lipogenesis in hepatocytes. Lung minces from rats given indomethacin in vivo also stimulated lecithin formation in hepatocytes.