Hepatic Concentration and Distribution of Coenzyme A and Carnitine during a Streptococcus pneumoniae Infection in the Rat: Possible Implications on Fatty Acid Metabolism and Ketogenesis

摘要

Rats infected with Streptococcus pneumoniae were used to study the effect of pneumococcal infection on the hepatic concentrations and the subcellular distribution of carnitine and coenzyme A (CoA). Compared to fasted control rats, fasted-infected rats have a decreased ketogenic capacity that is associated with an accumulation of total hepatic carnitine and a decrease in total hepatic coenzyme A. The concentration of competing substrates (e.g., lactate and pyruvate) and nucleotide ratios (e.g., (Acetyl-CoA)/(CoA), (ATP)/(ADP)(HPO4(2-)), and (NAD+)/(NADH)) are also variably affected by the infection. The concentrations of both lactate and pyruvate and the mitochondrial ratio of (NAD+)/(NADH) increased, while mitochondrial (acetyl-CoA)/(CoA) and the phosphorylation state or the (ATP)/(ADP)(HPO4(2-) ratio decreased compared to fasted controls.