STUDY OF SREBP1 AND SERBP2 IN PERIPHERAL BLOOD MONONUCLEAR CELLS FRON HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIC RABBITS

SAEZ ALDANA; MUSSI JESICA; BOARELLI PAOLA VANINA; FUNES, ABI KARENINA; FORNES, MIGUEL WALTER; COLOMBO REGINA; SAEZ LANCELLOTI TANIA

Mar del Plata

Congreso; LXIII Reunión Annual de la Sociedad Argentina de Investigación Clínica SAIC ? SAI ? SAFIS.; 2018

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells are a possible biomarker thatcould reveal molecular alterations before the development of thedisease.Therefore, the objective of the present investigation is to study molecularand genetic changes that indicate metabolic modificationseven with normal biochemical values. SERBP1 and SERBP2 (sterolregulatory element binding protein) are proteins associated with lipogenesisand regulated by the levels of insulinemia and cholesterolrespectively. These molecules can expressed in peripheral bloodmononuclear cells. This allows study tissue changes without resortingto biopsies.In this study, one control group of New Zealand rabbits was fed withbalanced feed (C) and another group received the same balancedfeed supplemented with 17% fat (F). These animals did not receivefructose overload, maintaining constant concentrations of carbohydratesand protein in both groups.In biochemical tests from both groups were observed similar levelsof glucose (C group: 140.7 mg/dl + 28.4 / F group: 118.3 mg/dl+12.0) and triglyceride (C group: 144.1 mg/dl + 15.5 / F group: 135.6mg/dl +8.3), while F group showed increased levels of cholesterol(42.8 mg/dl + 21.6) compared with C group (27.1 mg/dl + 4.5).Insulin levels also present differences between both groups: 20.0uU/ml + 1.4 (C gruop), 5.3 uU/ml +1.15 (F group). However, thereis variability in the cholesterol values because some animals of theF group do not experience significant increment despite the intakeof fat.This interesting finding leads to the hypothesis that changes in lipidmetabolism can be examined by the expression of different genesearly.As preliminary results, we observed by immunohistochemistry thepresence of SREBP1 and SREBP2 in lymphocytes of the F group,while in C group was not observed immunereaction. This result isindicating an activation of the lipid metabolism before being able toobserve changes at a biochemical level.