Change in expression of GBP28/adiponectin in carbon tetrachloride-administrated mouse liver.

GBP28 (gelatin-binding protein of 28 kDa)/adiponectin is an adipocyte-producing plasma protein proposed to interact with the extracellular matrix. To examine the production of GBP28 in non-adipose tissues, we herein analyzed its expression and localization in mouse livers before and after CCl(4) treatment. In immunohistochemical analyses, the boundary of hepatocytes provided positive signals for GBP28 after 3-6 h and their cytoplasm was intensely stained after 18 h of CCl(4) treatment. Quantitative RT-PCR and in situ hybridization revealed that GBP28 mRNA expression was markedly elevated in CCl(4)-treated mouse livers. These results suggest that the circulating GBP28 binds the extracellular matrices of hepatocytes during the initial stage of CCl(4)-induced hepatic injury and the damaged hepatocytes themselves started to produce GBP28 thereafter. The induced expression of GBP28 was also observed in human hepatoma HepG2 cells after treatment with IL-6. Thus, GBP28 is also produced by the liver, where it undergoes tissue damage-induced transcriptional regulation.