The expression of chemerin and chemerin receptor in rats with methionine-and choline-deficient diet induced nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Abstract

Objective To explore the expression of chemerin and chemerin receptor ( chemokine-like receptor 1, CMKLR1) during different periods of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease ( NAFLD) rat model induced by methionine- and choline-deficient ( MCD) diet. Methods Thirty-six Wistar rats were divided into control group and MCD group in random. After one week quarantine and acclimation period, these two groups were fed either normal chow or MCD diet. The animals were respectively sacrificed at the first week, the forth week, and the tenth week. The levels of alanine transaminase (ALT), blood lipid profile, liver function, and the content of triglyceride in liver were detected. HE staining was done to observe the morphologic change of liver. The mRNA expression changes of chemerin and CMKLR1 in liver were measured using real-time PCR, and the change in chemerin mRNA level was further confirmed in liver by Northern blot. Finally, the concentration of chemerin in serum was measured by Western blot. Results The mRNA level of chemerin decreased significantly after four and ten weeks MCD feeding, although no obvious changes were found at first week, similar changes were found in serum chemerin (1.00±0.11 vs 0.96±0.39; 1.00±0.12 vs 0.21 ±0.77; 1.00±0.42 vs 0.21 ±0. 11). Contrasting with the change of chemerin(1.00±0.08 vs 0.72±0.10;1.00±0.24 vs 0.63±0. 31 ;1.00±0.05 vs 0.50±0.13), the mRNA level of CMKLR1 increased after MCD feeding( 1.00±0. 14 vs 0. 84±0. 26; 1.00±0. 38 vs 1. 51 ±0. 33; 1. 01 ±0. 13 vs 1. 84 ± 0. 39 ). Conclusion The change of chemerin and its receptor may participate in the process of the nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Key words: Methionine- and choline-deficient diet; Chemerin; CMKLR1; Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease