Extensive changes in liver gene expression induced by Hereditary Tyrosinemia type I are not normalized by treatment with 2-(2-nitro-4-trifluoromethylbenzoyl)-1,3-cyclohexanedione (NTBC)

Background: Hereditary Tyrosinemia type I, caused by deficiency of fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase (FAH), is characterized by liver and kidney damage. Administration of 2-(2-nitro-4-trifluoromethylbenzoyl)-1,3-cyclohexanedione (NTBC) corrects the tyrosinemia phenotype, but does not prevent development of hepatocellular carcinoma. Aim: To gain insight into the pathophysiological changes associated with liver damage induced by tyrosinemia and the preventive action of NTBC on these changes. Methods: Differential gene expression patterns in livers of tyrosinemia-affected and healthy mice, and of tyrosinemia-affected and NTBC-treated Fah−/− mice were investigated by suppression subtractive hybridization. Results: Transcripts encoding proteins playing a role in protein turnover, growth and proliferation, RNA processing, and signal transduction were primarily induced in tyrosinemia-affected livers. Transcripts mainly contributing to the profile of suppressed genes encode proteins that are secreted by the liver, or are necessary for intermediate metabolism. NTBC treatment fails to normalize the tyrosinemia-induced alterations in expression of transcripts encoding proteins involved in protein turnover, signal transduction, and cell growth and proliferation. Conclusions: The failure of NTBC to normalize liver gene expression of Fah−/− mice may play a role in rendering the tyrosinemia-affected liver susceptible to development of hepatocellular carcinoma under NTBC treatment.