Liver endothelium desialates ceruloplasmin

Abstract

Our previous work indicated that ceruloplasmin (CP) is transported through liver endothelium via a receptor-mediated mechanism and is subsequently externalized on the abluminal side. In the present work 125I or 3H-labeled ceruloplasmin was chased through the endothelium and the supernate was subjected to affinity chromatography using RCA120 column. Evidence was obtained that liver endothelium completely desialates CP in the course of its transport. The results substantiated the view that desialated CP is subsequently removed by hepatocytes through asialoglycoprotein receptors.