Reutilization of amino acid carbons in relation to albumin turnover in nongrowing mice with sarcoma

Journal Article · Tue Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1982 · Cancer Res.; (United States)

OSTI ID:7056463

Karlberg, I; Ekman, L; Edstroem, S; Schersten, T; Lundholm, K

Reutilization of amino acid carbons was evaluated in relation to increased turnover of albumin in tumor-bearing mice. A methylcholanthrene-induced sarcoma (MCG 101) was used in nongrowing mice (C57BL/6J). Sarcoma-bearing mice developed hypoalbuminemia, but pair-fed controls did not. The hypoalbuminemia was caused by increased albumin degradation rate, measured by injection of Na/sup 214/CO/sup 3/, and by exponentially increased deposition of albumin into the tumor compartment. The fractional synthesis rate of albumin was doubled in tumor-bearing mice compared with controls. The translational capacity of albumin synthesis evaluated in vitro was maintained in tumor host livers. The recycling of (/sup 14/C)leucine carbons was almost extinguished in plasma albumin of sarcoma-bearing mice, while that of control mice contributed to 30 to 40% of the total leucine carbon flux in turned over albumin. The recycling of arginine carbons was also different when measured after simultaneous injection of (guanido-/sup 14/C)arginine and (2,3-/sup 3/H)arginine. The hepatic pool of free leucine was increased by 22% in tumor-bearing mice. It is concluded that increased albumin degradation in cancer may be a disordered event and is earlier and of initially greater quantitative importance than is altered synthesis of albumin for the development of hypoalbuminemia in experimental cancer.

• Research Organization: Department of Surgery, University of Goeteborg, Sweden
• OSTI ID: 7056463
• Journal Information: Cancer Res.; (United States), Vol. 42:6
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ALBUMINS
BIOCHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
AMINO ACIDS
BIOSYNTHESIS
CARBON
CARBON 14 COMPOUNDS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
LIVER
MEASURING METHODS
MICE
QUANTITATIVE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
SARCOMAS
TRACER TECHNIQUES
TRITIUM COMPOUNDS
ANIMALS
BODY
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
DISEASES
ELEMENTS
GLANDS
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
KINETICS
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
MAMMALS
NEOPLASMS
NONMETALS
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PROTEINS
REACTION KINETICS
RODENTS
SYNTHESIS
VERTEBRATES
550201* - Biochemistry- Tracer Techniques
550501 - Metabolism- Tracer Techniques