Synthesis of lysyl oxidase in experimental hepatic fibrosis.

The synthesis of lysyl oxidase, which initiates the cross-linking of collagen and elastin, was investigated in carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced fibrotic liver of rat. Lysyl oxidase activity of the fibrotic liver was 4 times greater than that of normal liver. mRNAs from the livers of normal and CCl4-treated rats were prepared for in vitro protein synthesis and the products were analyzed by immunoprecipitation with a monoclonal antibody against lysyl oxidase. The mRNAs from the fibrotic liver gave more than 3 times higher level of messenger copies for lysyl oxidase than did mRNAs from normal liver. The molecular weight of the nascent lysyl oxidase was 48,000.