RGD Reference Report - Ferritin expression in rat hepatocytes and Kupffer cells after lead nitrate treatment. - Rat Genome Database

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Ferritin expression in rat hepatocytes and Kupffer cells after lead nitrate treatment.

Authors: Fan, Y  Yamada, T  Shimizu, T  Nanashima, N  Akita, M  Suto, K  Tsuchida, S 
Citation: Fan Y, etal., Toxicol Pathol. 2009;37(2):209-17.
RGD ID: 5509838
Pubmed: PMID:19332663   (View Abstract at PubMed)
DOI: DOI:10.1177/0192623308328544   (Journal Full-text)

Lead nitrate induces hepatocyte proliferation and subsequent apoptosis in rat livers. Iron is a constituent of heme and is also required for cell proliferation. In this study, the expression of ferritin light-chain (FTL), the major iron storage protein, was investigated in rat livers after a single intravenous injection of lead nitrate. Western blotting and immunohistochemistry revealed that FTL was increased in hepatocytes around the central veins and strongly expressed in nonparenchymal cells. Some FTL-positive nonparenchymal cells were identified as Kupffer cells that were positive for CD68. FTL-positive Kupffer cells occupied about 60% of CD68-positive cells in the periportal and perivenous areas. The relationships between FTL expression and apoptosis induction or the engulfment of apoptotic cells were examined. TUNEL-positive cells were increased in the treatment group, and enhanced expression of milk fat globule EGF-like 8 was demonstrated in some Kupffer cells and hepatocytes, indicating enhanced apoptosis induction and phagocytosis of apoptotic cells. FTL-positive Kupffer cells were not detected without lead nitrate treatment or in rat livers treated with clofibrate, which induces hepatocyte proliferation but not apoptosis. These results suggest that FTL expression in Kupffer cells after lead treatment is dependent on phagocytosis of apoptotic cells.

Gene Ontology Annotations    Click to see Annotation Detail View

Biological Process
TermQualifierEvidenceWithReferenceNotesSourceOriginal Reference(s)
response to lead ion  IEP 5509838 RGD 

Objects Annotated

Genes (Rattus norvegicus)
Ftl1  (ferritin light chain 1)


Additional Information