Acetaldehyde-protein adducts, but not lactate and pyruvate, stimulate gene transcription of collagen and fibronectin in hepatic fat-storing cells.

Hepatic fibrosis is an important morphological feature of alcohol-induced liver injury. We previously reported that acetaldehyde, but not ethanol can stimulate type I collagen and fibronectin synthesis in cultures of rat fat-storing cells (FSC) by increasing transcription of the specific genes. The effect of lactate and pyruvate was studied on collagen I, III, fibronectin accumulation by cultured rat FSCs and it was investigated whether acetaldehyde could increase procollagen I and fibronectin gene transcription through the formation of protein adducts. Lactate and pyruvate (5, 15 and 25 mmol/l) did not significantly affect collagen I, III and fibronectin production by cultured FSCs. Pyridoxal-phosphate and p-hydroxymecuribenzoate (inhibitors of acetaldehyde-protein adduct formation) blocked the stimulatory effect of acetaldehyde on procollagen I and fibronectin gene transcription. These data suggest that ethanol may act as a liver fibrogenic factor through acetaldehyde, its immediate metabolite, whereas lactate does not seem to play a role. Acetaldehyde might stimulate gene transcription of extracellular matrix components by liver FSCs through the formation of adducts with proteins.