Objective To discuss the changes of c-kit/scf mRNA and protein in guinea pig gallbladder fed on high cholesterol diet. Methods Twenty guinea pigs were divided into two equal groups of 10 each：the control group and lithogenic group. Normal diet and high cholesterol diet was given to each group respectively. The period of stone permeation was six weeks. RT-PCR and Western blot were used to determin the expressions of c-kit and scf mRNA and protein. Results RT-PCR results showed that the expressions of c-kit mRNA（t=6.985，P＜0.01） and scf mRNA （t=6.028， P＜0.01）decreased significantly in lithogenic group compared with the control group. Western blot results showed that the expressions of c-kit protein （t=10.256， P＜0.01） and scf protein （t=9.586， P＜0.01）decreased significantly in lithogenic group compared with the control group. Conclusions The expressions of c-kit/scf mRNA and protein decrease during the formation of cholesterol gallstones in guinea pigs fed on high cholesterol diet. Inhibition of c-kit/scf pathway may play a role in the formation of cholesterol gallstones.
ObjectiveTo explore the expressions of transthyretin(TTR) mRNA and its protein in tissues of human gallbladder with cholesterol gallstones, and to explore its role in the formation of cholesterol gallstones. MethodsGallbladder were got from cases of cholesterol gallstones(cholesterol gallstones group, n=25) and cases underwent liver transplantation with normal gallbladder(normal control group, n=9) respectively, who were treated in Ren Ji Hospital and Huashan Hospital. Real time PCR(RT-PCR) and Western blot method were used to determine the expressions of TTR mRNA and its protein respectively. In addition, 2 kinds of artificial model bile system were established to test nucleation time(NT) and nucleation activity, which added TTR and albumin(ALB). ResultsThe expression levels of TTR mRNA and protein in cholesterol gallstones group were 1.51±0.78 and 3.95±0.09 respectively, which were both higher than those of normal control group(P<0.05). The NT were(14.5±1.3)d and(18.0±0.8)d in TTR group and ALB group in small model bile system(P<0.01), which was similar with comprehensive model bile system[(13.5±0.6)d vs. (18.5±1.3)d]. The nucleation activity were 0.81 and 0.73 in small model bile system and comprehensive model bile system respectively. ConclusionsExpression of TTR up-regulates in human gallbladder tissues of patients with cholesterol gallstones, and TTR plays role of nucleation in model bile system, which is related to the formation of cholesterol gallstones.