Stimulation of human albumin synthesis and gene expression by growth hormone treatment

Background and aims: In this study the effects of acute (5 h) and short-ter m (5 days) GH treatment on albumin synthesis rates in man were investigated and related to changes in the availability of hepatic albumin mRNA. Methods: 30 patients undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy were randomized into controls (n=10) or GH-treatment (12 U/dose) for 5 h or 5 da ys (n=10 in each group). Albumin mRNA levels (in liver biopsy specimens) we re measured employing a quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay develo ped specifically for this purpose, whereas albumin synthesis was measured u sing [H-2(5)] phenylalanine. Results: The fractional synthesis rate of albumin was 6.0+/-0.9 %/day in th e control group and 8.0 +/- 1.8 %/day and 8.3 +/- 1.7 %/day in the GH-treat ed groups, respectively (P < 0.05 vs controls in both cases). The correspon ding values for the concentration of albumin mRNA were 2.6 +/- ng/<mu>g tot al RNA, 2.9 +/- 0.8 ng/mug total RNA (NS) and 4.7 +/- 1.8 ng/mug total RNA in the 'GH 5' group (P < 0.01 vs controls). The changes in albumin synthesi s were only partly explained by the differences in hepatic albumin mRNA lev els (r=0.5, P < 0.01). Conclusion: These results suggest that GH may induce a quick, gene expressi on-independent increase in albumin synthesis, which is sustained by a later -occurring increase in albumin gene expression. (C) 2000 Harcourt Publisher s Ltd.