In vitro synthesis of microsomal protein and albumin in young and old rats

Albumin heterogeneity in low-abundance fluids. The case of urine and cerebro-spinal fluid

BACKGROUND

Serum albumin is a micro-heterogeneous protein composed of at least 40 isoforms. Its heterogeneity is even more pronounced in biological fluids other than serum, the major being urine and cerebrospinal fluid. Modification 'in situ' and/or selectivity of biological barriers, such as in the kidney, determines the final composition of albumin and may help in definition of inflammatory states.

SCOPE OF REVIEW

This review focuses on various aspects of albumin heterogeneity in low 'abundance fluids' and highlights the potential source of information in diseases.

MAJOR CONCLUSIONS

The electrical charge of the protein in urine and CSF is modified but with an opposite change and depending on clinical conditions. In normal urine, the bulk of albumin is more anionic than in serum for the presence of ten times more fatty acids that introduce equivalent anionic charges and modify hydrophobicity of the protein. At the same time, urinary albumin is more glycosylated compared to the serum homolog. Finally, albumin fragments can be detected in urine in patients with proteinuria. For albumin in CSF, we lack information relative to normal conditions since ethical problems do not allow normal CSF to be studied. In multiple sclerosis, the albumin charge in CSF is more cationic than in serum, this change possibly involving structural anomalies or small molecules bindings.

GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE

Massively fatty albumin could be toxic for tubular cells and be eliminated on this basis. Renal handling of glycosylated albumin can alter the normal equilibrium of filtration/reabsorption and trigger mechanisms leading to glomerulosclerosis and tubulo-interstitial fibrosis. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Serum Albumin.

Liver function and phase I drug metabolism in the elderly: a paradox

Aging is accompanied by marked changes in the physiology of many organs, as well as in their constituent cells. These nonpathological alterations in structure and/or function may affect normal physiological processes in the elderly (individuals > 65 years), for example drug disposition. The liver plays a major role in drug clearance and aging has been reported to diminish this hepatic capacity, particularly the clearance of drugs that undergo mandatory oxidation by the microsomal cytochrome P450-dependent mono-oxygenase systems. Liver volume and blood flow decline with age in humans and, no doubt, this contributes to the diminished clearance of drugs that exhibit first-pass kinetic profiles. Changes in liver morphology with aging that have been described in rodents are limited to the hepatocytes, for example accumulation of dense bodies and loss of smooth surfaced endoplasmic reticulum. There is no evidence that the increase in intracellular lipofuscin adversely affects hepatocyte functions. A number of studies have documented significant age-related declines in the amounts, specific activities and rates of induction of liver microsomal mono-oxygenases in inbred male rats. On the basis of a variety of clinical tests, most liver functions in humans appear to be well preserved. The most remarkable characteristic of liver function in the elderly is the increase in interindividual variability, a feature that may obscure age-related differences. Most in vitro studies using nonhuman primate or human liver tissue did not detect age-related deficiencies in cytochrome P450-dependent microsomal mono-oxygenases. On the other hand, there have been recent reports of age-related, but not gender-related, declines in the in vitro activities of several human liver mono-oxygenases, for example the cytochrome P450 isoform CYP3A. Nevertheless, reduced liver volume and blood flow in the elderly permit the reconciliation of: the in vivo clinical pharmacokinetic data indicative of reduced hepatic drug clearance; and the absence of significant age-related declines in the amounts or in vitro activities of liver microsomal mono-oxygenases.

The aging liver. Drug clearance and an oxygen diffusion barrier hypothesis

A change in drug clearance with age is considered an important factor in determining the high prevalence of adverse drug reactions associated with prescribing medications for the elderly. Despite this, no general principles have been available to guide drug administration in the elderly, although a substantial body of clearance and metabolism data has been generated in humans and experimental animals. A review of age-related change in drug clearances established that patterns of change are not simply explained in terms of hepatic blood flow, hepatic mass and protein binding changes. In particular, the maintained clearance of drugs subject to conjugation processes while oxygen-dependent metabolism declines, and all in vitro tests of enzyme function have been normal, requires new explanations. Reduction in hepatic oxygen diffusion as part of a general change in hepatocyte surface membrane permeability and conformation does provide one explanation for the paradoxical patterns of drug metabolism, and increased hepatocyte volume would also modify oxygen diffusion path lengths (the 'oxygen diffusion barrier' hypothesis). The reduction in clearances of high extraction drugs does correlate with observed reduction in hepatic perfusion. Dosage guidelines emerge from these considerations. The dosage of high clearance drugs should be reduced by approximately 40% in the elderly while the dosage of low clearance drugs should be reduced by approximately 30%, unless the compound is principally subject to conjugation mechanisms. If the hepatocyte diffusion barrier hypothesis is substantiated, this concept may lead to therapeutic (preventative and/or restorative) approaches to increased hepatocyte oxygenation in the elderly. This may lead to approaches for modification of the aging process in the liver.

Hepatocyte fine structure during maturation and senescence

Aging is accompanied by a myriad of changes in cell structure, function, and composition. The fact that much of the information concerning age-related alterations in cellular morphology is qualitative precludes meaningful correlations with biochemical changes in order to enhance data interpretation. The mammalian liver has been subjected to both qualitative and quantitative evaluations of hepatocyte structure as a function of aging, i.e., development, maturation, and senescence. Although these data are characterized by considerable variability and, in some instances, blatant contradictions, there exists sufficient agreement in several parameters to permit a consensus in the inbred rat model. Certainly the volume of individual hepatocytes increases with age, and many of the organelle compartments reflect this change. While old rats exhibit a high incidence of polyploidy, there is no definitive evidence to demonstrate a concomitant increase in the binuclear hepatocyte index. Several specific hepatocellular organelles undergo changes in their relative volume or surface area that appear to correlate with functional alterations. The volume density of the lysosomal compartment enlarges significantly during senescence and is accompanied by increased activities of several constituent hydrolases. The hepatic concentration of smooth-surfaced endoplasmic reticulum declines markedly with aging, as does the yield of liver microsomes and the activities of several microsomal enzymes, e.g., mono-oxygenases and glucose-6-phosphatase. However, the responses of the majority of hepatocyte organelles to aging is varied and inconsistent based on the limited data currently available.

Albumin elimination in female WAG/Rij rats with age: a longitudinal study

A longitudinal study was performed to examine total albumin elimination and urinary albumin excretion in the female WAG/Rij rat. Complete necropsies were performed following the spontaneous death of the animals. The survival characteristics of this group was similar to that of survival cohorts. An increase in total albumin elimination, urinary protein excretion and urinary albumin excretion was observed with age. A proportional increase in the contribution of albumin to the urinary protein excretion was also observed. However, the observed increase in urinary albumin excretion could not totally account for the increase in total albumin elimination. The predominant kidney lesion was chronic progressive nephrosis. The histological severity of the renal lesions were closely correlated with the increase in urinary albumin and total protein loss. It is concluded that the increase in total albumin elimination in rats in this study was due to age-related changes and not to cohort effects.

Molecular aspects of age-related changes in albumin synthesis in female WAG/Rij rats

The rate of albumin gene transcription and the level of albumin RNA sequences in liver nuclei of rats of various ages were determined to investigate the regulation of age-related changes in levels of cytoplasmic albumin mRNA in rat liver. No change was observed with age in both the rate of albumin gene transcription and the amount of nuclear albumin RNA sequences, which suggests that the increase in cytoplasmic albumin mRNA content in the rat liver with age is caused by a decreased turnover of this messenger. The length of poly(A)-tails of rat liver cytoplasmic RNA with age was also examined. Although no change with age was observed in the poly(A)-tail length sedimenting at the peak fraction, a shift towards shorter poly(A)-tails was found with age in the overall poly(A)-tail length distribution.

The effect of age on the induction of tyrosine aminotransferase and tryptophan oxygenase genes by physiological stress

Expression of the genes coding for tyrosine aminotransferase and tryptophan oxygenase in rats is induced in response to cold stress. We have studied the effect of ageing on this induction. The induction of tyrosine aminotransferase activity in young adult rats (10 months) was about twice that observed with old rats (25 months). This difference between the two age groups was also observed when the steady-state level of tyrosine aminotransferase mRNA was measured by hybridization with a specific DNA probe. However, when the transcription rate of the gene was measured by in vitro elongation of nascent RNA in isolated nuclei, no difference was detected. In contrast to the results with tyrosine aminotransferase, induced tryptophan oxygenase enzyme and mRNA levels did not show an age-dependent difference. These results suggest that there is, with ageing, an impairment in post-transcriptional regulation of the synthesis of tyrosine aminotransferase. The regulation of tryptophan oxygenase, on the other hand, is similar in the two age groups.

Changes in fluid-phase endocytosis in the rat with age and their relation to total albumin elimination

Rates of fluid-phase endocytosis were determined in several organs and tissues of female WAG/Rij rats of several ages by using 125I-labelled polyvinylpyrrolidone ([125I]-PVP) as a marker. Liver, muscle and skin accounted for a high level of [125I]PVP uptake 28 h after injection. When PVP uptake was expressed per gram of organ/tissue, the liver and spleen were found to be the most active. An age-related increase in [125I]PVP uptake was seen at between 12 and 36 months of age in liver, kidneys and heart. Except for the kidneys this increase is caused by an increase in wet weight of these organs and not by an increase in the specific endocytic rate. These data, together with reported findings on the major sites of albumin catabolism, in liver, kidney, spleen and intestine, indicate that fluid-phase endocytosis is a main mechanism for the observed age-related increase in albumin elimination in these rats.

Effects of age and obesity on the metabolism of lindane by black a/a, yellow Avy/a, and pseudoagouti Avy/a phenotypes of (YS x VY) F1 hybrid mice

Lindane (gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane) has been shown to produce hepatomas in some strains of mice but not in others. Genetic factors and/or altered metabolism may play a role in the susceptibility to lindane-induced hepatomas. This study reports the effect of age and obesity on the comparative metabolism and disposition of lindane in obese yellow Avy/a and in lean pseudoagouti Avy/a and black a/a phenotypes of (YS x VY) F1 hybrid female mice at 8, 17, 30, 56, and 86 wk of age. At 24 h prior to sacrifice the mice were dosed p.o. with 18 mg lindane (containing 55 microCi [U-14C]lindane/kg). Aging altered the biotransformation of lindane such that while the excretion of lindane and its metabolites declined, the proportion of conjugated and polar metabolites increased. Tissue storage was elevated in older animals. In the yellow Avy/a mice, which are known to have a predisposition to the formation of hepatomas, there was accelerated and prolonged growth, reduced metabolite excretion, a greater proportion of conjugated metabolites, and higher dechlorinase activity compared to that of their pseudoagouti Avy/a and black a/a siblings.

Changes in the sequence content of albumin mRNA and in its translational activity in the rat liver with age

To investigate the regulation of age-related changes in albumin synthesis in the rat liver, total postnuclear RNA and polyribosomes, both membrane-bound and free, were prepared from livers of rats of different ages. By the use of a specific complementary DNA probe, the albumin mRNA sequence content was quantitated in these RNA fractions. These studies showed a specific increase in albumin mRNA sequence content in total postnuclear RNA and membrane-bound polyribosomes at between 12 and 24 months of age. Between 24 and 36 months of age, the increase in the amount of albumin mRNA in these two fractions was due only to an increase in liver weight. The increase in albumin mRNA sequence content was not found in the poly(A)+ fraction but in the RNA extracted from the void of oligo(dT)-cellulose column chromatography. The isolated polyribosomes were translated in a cell-free system to assess age-related changes in total protein and albumin synthesis due to translational control. No changes with age were found in the translational capacity of membrane-bound and free polyribosomes per RNA unit. Immunoprecipitation of the synthesized albumin in the translation products revealed that albumin synthesis in the cell-free system is not increased proportionally with the elevated albumin mRNA level between 12 and 24 months of age. This indicates that albumin mRNAs present in the livers of old rats are biologically less active than those found in younger animals.

Age-related changes in albumin elimination in female WAG/Rij rats

Albumin elimination rates were determined in 3-, 12-, 24- and 36-month-old female WAG/Rij rats. No change in elimination half-life was found with age. However, as there was an increase in the whole-body albumin pool, a concomitant increase in albumin clearance was observed at between 12 and 36 months of age. It was concluded that the increase in clearance between 12 and 24 months of age was only due to a change in the animal's physiology, whereas between 24 and 36 months of age it was also due to changes in the albumin molecule. The age-related changes in albumin clearance were thought not to be caused by changes in the albumin excretion via the urine or via the gastrointestinal tract.

Changes in the synthesis of exportable and nonexportable proteins in parotid glands during aging

The age-related differences in the synthesis of exportable and nonexportable proteins of the parotid salivary gland were compared in 2- and 24-months-old rats. Parotid slices from these rats were incubated in the presence of [14C]leucine and the amount of radioactivity incorporated into the water-soluble proteins of the postmicrosomal supernatant was compared. The exportable and nonexportable proteins were identified by electrophoretic separation of these proteins by comparing the banding patterns of the gel preparations from unstimulated glands to those from the glands stimulated to secrete. The radioactivity determination in various protein bands from these rats indicated that the synthesis of exportable secretory proteins declined with age, while that of nonexportable proteins did not appear to change.

Ribosomes from aging mice are not generally deficient in cell-free protein synthesis

Cell-free protein synthesis by mouse liver ribosomes was examined as a function of the age of individual ribosome donors. In two strains of mouse, one long-lived and one short-lived, both the fraction of polyribosomes and the rate of in vitro ribosomal protein synthesis remained essentially constant throughout the lifespan, although in each "old" group one of three mice fell below the range of values observed for all other mice. Poly(U) stimulation of preincubated ribosome preparations similarly did not change with senescence; whereas poly(U)-directed synthesis by washed monosomes, pelleted after messenger run-off, increased two-fold for old mice. These results indicate that ribosomes of old mice are not necessarily defective in protein-synthesizing capacity, as previously reported, but may become defective in particular individuals.

Ageing studies in rat liver. II. Patterns of cellular and cell-free protein synthesis from one to ten months of age

Potential changes in liver protein biosynthesis were investigated in 1 to 10-month-old male Fischer F344 rats by isolation and translation of polysome-derived poly(A)-containing RNA and by incubation of isolated hepatocytes in Swim's S77 medium supplemented with [3H]leucine. Labeled protein products were analyzed by one- and two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by fluorography. The protein profiles revealed that the translation products of poly(A)-containing RNA derived from the livers of 1 -months-old animals lacked a major 22000 dalton band which was present in comparable profiles from livers of older animals. In parallel experiments, gel profiles of products from cultured hepatocytes isolated from 1-month-old animals were missing an 18000 dalton band which was seen in preparations from older animals. With livers from rats between 2 and 10 months of age, however, no age-related changes in the pattern of protein biosynthesis were detected either in the products of poly(A)-containing RNA translated in vitro or in the cellular and secreted proteins of intact hepatocytes. Furthermore, the polysome content (A1(260)cm/g tissue) was constant between 1 and 10 months of age, providing a constant amount of tissue was processed. A procedure for maximizing the yield of polysomes is described. These results suggest that the decline in protein synthesis observed in rat liver and in cultured hepatocytes during the first year of life is not due to changes in mRNA content or the variety of specific products synthesized, but results primarily from an overall decrease in protein biosynthesis, probably at the level of peptide chain elongation.

Effects of the type of dietary fat at two levels of vitamin E in Wistar male rats during development and aging. III. Biochemical and morphometric parameters of the liver

The purpose of this study was to explore in rats the possible influence of the type of dietary fat at two extreme levels of vitamin E on several biochemically determined hepatic changes and on a number of quantitatively analyzed structural and ultrastructural variations with age in hepatic cells. Six groups of weanling Wistar male rats were fed ad libitum isoenergetic diets containing similar amounts (15 g per 100 g diet) of saturated fat (coconut oil), unsaturated fat (safflower oil) or a combination of both at two levels of dl-alpha-tocopherol (2 or 200 mg per 100 g of diet). Determinations were performed in rats killed at 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months. Although in relation to age and irrespective of the type of diet, several of the biochemical parameters fluctuated with time, comparisons of the results between the youngest and oldest rats showed no changes in the levels of hepatic RNA, phospholipids, cholesterol, total tocopherols and total collagens, significant increases in DNA and triglycerides and a significant decrease in total protein. While the type of diet did not have in general significant influences on the levels of DNA, RNA, total protein and collagens, either the type of dietary fat and/or the levels of vitamin E had some definite effects on the levels of triglycerides, cholesterol, phospholipids and total tocopherols, as well as on the in vitro formation of malonaldehyde and on the eventual occurrence of in vivo lipoperoxidation (diene conjugation). These effects, however, varied in relation to the duration of the diverse dietary treatments. The morphologic studies indicated that all the livers had variable but generally moderate degrees of fatty changes (mainly due to triglyceride accumulation) which were attributed to the moderate obesity found in the rats. The mean nuclear and cell dimensions of hepatocytes, the number of binucleated hepatocytes, surface density of rough endoplasmic reticulum, numerical density of mitochondria and the fractional cytoplasmic volume occupied by lipofuscin pigment in hepatocytes were not significantly affected by the type of diet, by age or by the eventual occurrence of in vivo hepatic lipoperoxidation, whereas the numerical density of hepatocytes (mono- and binucleated) and "litoral cells" (endothelial, Kupffer and Ito cells), although unaffected by diet, significantly increased with age. On the other hand, the fractional volume of mitochondria and peroxisomes, as well as the numerical density of peroxisomes, were significantly influenced by the type of dietary fat and to lesser extent by the dietary levels of vitamin E.

Rat brain protein synthesis declines during postdevelopmental aging

Using improved methods to measure brain protein synthesis in vivo (Dunlop et al., 1975) we have established that brain protein synthesis significantly declines in forebrain, cerebellum and brain stem when mature rats (3 months old) are compared to old rats (22.5 months old). The incorporation of (3H) L-lysine into forebrain protein is reduced 11% in 10.5 month old rats compared to 3 month old rats. A further reduction of 9% occurred between 16.5 months and 22.5 months. Our data suggest that reduced levels of protein synthesis initiation may be responsible, at least in part, for this age-related decline.

RNA and protein synthesis in cultured human fibroblasts derived from donors of various ages

RNA synthesis in human fibroblasts from donors of various ages was studied in fibroblasts made permeable to nucleoside triphosphates with the nonionic detergent Nonidet P40. Cells from donors of 11 years and older showed a 30-40% decline in total RNA synthesis. The decrease in RNA synthesis was primarily due to a lowering of RNA polymerase II activity (alpha-amanitin sensitive). Studies on the incorporation of leucine into protein also showed a 30-40% decrease in cells from older donors.

A comparison of protein synthesis by liver parenchymal cells isolated from Fischer F344 rats of various ages

Rates of protein synthesis by intact liver parenchymal cells isolated from male Fischer F344 rats ranging in age from 2.5 to 30 months were determined by measuring the incorporation of [3H] valine into acid-insoluble material and the specific activity of the extracellular valine. The rate of protein synthesis decreased 44% from 2.5 to 18 months and then increased slightly (18%) from 18 to 30 months. There was no dramatic change in the types of proteins synthesized by isolated liver parenchymal cells isolated from 2- or 18-month-old rats as determined by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The ribosomal-transit time by liver parenchymal cells isolated from 18-month-old rats was 60% higher than the ribosomal-transit time of liver parenchymal cells isolated from 4-month-old rats. The fidelity of protein synthesis by parenchymal cells isolated from 4- and 18-month old rats was compared by measuring the incorporation of p-fluorophenyl alanine (an analogue of phenylalanine) into acid-insoluble material. Although protein synthesis decreased significantly from 4 to 18 months, the fidelity of protein synthesis remained constant.

The synthesis of glycosaminoglycans in aging rat liver. A brief note

The synthesis of glycosaminoglycans (GAG) was studied in liver slices from postnatal (9 days), young (140 days), adult (490 days) and senescent (940 days) rats. It was found that the rate of synthesis was highest in postnatal rat liver and decreased to about half in young rats with no further reduction in adult and senescent age groups. The specific radioactivity of the precursors of GAG synthesis did not change with age. The synthesis pattern of specific types of GAG in postnatal liver was characterized by a significant higher percentage of chondroitin sulfate and hyaluronic acid. In the following age classes the profile of specific GAG synthesis did not change significantly (heparin sulfate: chondroitin sulfate" hyaluronic acid: "keratin sulfate" = 84%:8.3%:1.5%:1.6%).

The effect of age on protein synthesis by isolated liver parenchymal cells

The protein synthesizing capacity of liver parenchymal cells isolated from 3-, 12-, 24-, 31- and 36-month-old rats was determined by the incorporation of 14C-leucine. Conditions for optimum protein synthesis included the use of an enriched medium (modified Waymouth's MB 752/1) and cell suspension concentrations ranging from 0.25 to 4 X 10(6) cells/ml medium. The cells were incubated with a dose of 6 micronmol leucine/ml medium for 2 h at 37 degrees C under an atmosphere of 95% O2 and 5% CO2. With parenchymal cells isolated from 3-month-old rats, a leucine incorporation rate of 14.4 nmol leucine/h/10(6) cells was found. The capacity of the parenchymal cells to synthesize protein decreased between 3 and 12 months, remained constant between 12 and 24 months and increased between 24 and 26 months. Degradation of newly synthesized proteins or reutilization of 14C-leucine did not occur during the incubation period. The ratio between albumin and total protein synthesis as a function of age was determined. This ratio did not change between 3 and 24 months but there was a significant increase between 24 and 36 months. The increase in total protein synthesis in late age may be due to a compensation by the liver for a more pronounced proteinuria, increased proteolysis or an accumulation of "altered" proteins.