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Intestinal ischemia-reperfusion impairs liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy in rats.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The deleterious effects of intestinal ischemia-reperfusion on liver are realized, but its effect on the regenerative capacity of the liver has not been studied. Our aim in this study was to determine the effect of intestinal ischemia-reperfusion on liver regeneration. METHODOLOGY: Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into six groups; two sham-operated, two hepatectomy, and two hepatectomy with intestinal ischemia-reperfusion groups. To create intestinal ischemia-reperfusion, the superior mesenteric artery and collateral arteries supplying the small intestine were occluded for 20 minutes. Partial hepatectomy was performed during the period of ischemia. Ischemia-reperfusion injury in the mucosal layer of the small intestine was scored in light microscopy. Liver regeneration parameters (proliferating cell nuclear antigen labeling index for hepatocytes and liver regeneration rate), and serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase were studied on day 1 or 4 after operation. RESULTS: Mucosal injury score was high in the hepatectomy with intestinal ischemia-reperfusion groups. Liver regeneration rate and proliferating cell nuclear antigen labeling index were less in these groups than the hepatectomy groups on day 1 and 4. There were no differences in the serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase between hepatectomy and hepatectomy with intestinal ischemia-reperfusion groups. The mortality rate was higher in the hepatectomy with intestinal ischemia-reperfusion groups than the other groups. CONCLUSIONS: Ischemia and reperfusion of the small intestine impaired liver regeneration with high mortality after partial hepatectomy in the rats.

Alanine Transaminase↗

Calmodulin-related changes in microsomal membrane fluidity during liver regeneration.

Based on our previous findings on the modifying effect of calmodulin (CaM) on the physiochemical properties of biomembrane, we have investigated the possible relationship between intracellular CaM content and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane fluidity and function during liver regeneration. The degree of ER membrane fluidity was estimated by fluorescence polarization analysis with the 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene probe. Microsomal guanylate cyclase (GC) was used as a functional parameter. The kinetics of the increase in the ER membrane fluidity during liver regeneration was strictly parallel to the CaM surge and was matched by an increase in GC activity. The stimulative effect of splenectomy on liver regeneration and its inhibition by Walker-256 tumor, inferred from the corresponding alterations of CaM levels, were mirrored by the modulation in GC activity. The fluidizing effect of CaM on ER membrane was concluded from the drop in thermotropic transition temperature from 28.3 +/- 1.6 degrees C in control membranes to 17.8 +/- 1.1 degrees C membranes from regenerating livers and to 19.8 +/- 1.2 degrees C in control membranes treated with CaM. Arrhenius plots of GC activity exhibited a transition temperature of 25.5 +/- 1.25 degrees C in controls, which shifted to 20.5 +/- 0.9 degrees C in ER membranes from regenerating livers and to 21.7 +/- 1.1 degrees C in control membranes treated with CaM. The Hill coefficient for the allosteric activation of the GC by Mn.GTP decreased from 1.49 +/- 0.16 in controls to 0.93 +/- 0.085 in membranes from regenerating cells and to 0.86 +/- 0.073 in CaM-treated membranes. Both effects of CaM were consistent with a fluidity increase in the enzyme's lipid microenvironment. The results of the present study suggest that an early key event in liver regeneration may be the CaM-induced modulation of ER membrane fluidity and function.

Animals↗

Selective elimination of hepatic natural killer T cells with concanavalin A improves liver regeneration in mice.

BACKGROUND: Although concanavalin A (Con A) as a T cell stimulant can cause natural killer T (NKT) cell-mediated liver injury in mice and a nonhepatotoxic dose of Con A can trigger innate immune cells including NKT cells to prevent tumor metastasis in the liver, little is known about the role of Con A-primed NKT cells in liver repair. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of pretreatment with a nontoxic dose of Con A on subsequent liver regeneration in mice. METHODS: A nontoxic dose of Con A was injected intravenously 24 h before partial hepatectomy (PHx), which was used as a model of liver regeneration. Ratios of remnant liver mass to body weight, bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) labeling were used to assess liver regeneration. RESULTS: Hepatic mononuclear cells were isolated and analyzed by flow cytometry. After PHx, the ratios of liver weight to body weight, PCNA-positive hepatocytes and BrdU-positive hepatocytes in Con A-pretreated mice were significantly higher than that of phosphate-buffered saline-treated mice, indicating that Con A pretreatment can accelerate liver regeneration. Flow cytometric analysis showed that NKT cells were significantly activated and selectively eliminated after the Con A administration. Moreover, NKT cells expressed more apoptosis-related molecules, Fas and Annexin V. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, Con A accelerates liver regeneration in mice by eliminating hepatic NKT cells via activation-induced cell death.

Alanine Transaminase↗

Alteration in sympathetic nerve activity during liver regeneration in rats after partial hepatectomy.

To determine if the sympathetic nerve has a role in liver regeneration, the alterations of tissue norepinephrine (NE) content and its turnover were measured in rats after partial hepatectomy. NE content per unit liver mass decreased progressively to about one-fourth of controls by the ninth day after partial hepatectomy. Since the total amount of NE in the whole liver did not change during nine days of liver regeneration, it was supposed that sympathetic innervation could make slower progress than proliferation of hepatocytes. Fractional turnover rate of NE was reduced transiently in regenerating liver 24-48 h after partial hepatectomy and recovered to normal 8-9 days after the operation. Such a transient reduction of NE turnover was observed specifically in the liver. These results suggest that sympathetic nerve activity of the liver is suppressed at the early stage of regeneration.

Animals↗

Influence of high cholesterol diet and pravastatin sodium on the initiation of liver regeneration in rats after partial hepatectomy.

OBJECTIVES: Liver regeneration is influenced by cholesterol and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMG-CoA-reductase). HMG-CoA-reductase is a key enzyme for cholesterol synthesis. Recent studies have shown that inhibitors of HMG-CoA-reductase improve liver functions after 67% partial hepatectomy (PH). METHODS: Male Wistar rats (W) and Prague hereditary hypercholesterolemic rats (PHHC) were used. Aqua pro injectione (AI) or pravastatin (prava; 1 mg/kg) was administered orally once daily. Group 1: W, standard diet (SD) + AI; group 2: W, SD + prava; group 3: W, cholesterol-enriched diet (chol) + AI; group 4: PHHC, chol + AI; group 5: PHHC, chol + prava. After 27 d, PH was performed in all groups. RESULTS: Groups fed chol before PH had significantly higher liver triacylglycerol content (group 3: 25.8 +/- 2.6 mg/g of liver weight; group 4: 16.0 +/- 1.0 of liver weight; group 5: 22.0 +/- 1.0 of liver weight) than did the groups fed SD (group 1: 6.1 +/- 0.5; group 2: 5.9 +/- 0.7). Liver DNA synthesis after PH was significantly lower in chol-fed groups (group 3: 561 +/- 78; group 4: 472 +/- 92) than in SD-fed groups (group 1: 1645 +/- 574; group 2: 2935 +/- 1298), except the chol-fed PHHC given prava (group 5: 3230 +/- 527). CONCLUSIONS: In prava-treated rats, the induction of HMG-CoA activity overcame the inhibitory capability of pravastatin. The induction of HMG-CoA-reductase activity had a stimulatory effect on the initiation of liver regeneration.

Animals↗

The prevalence and purification of hepatoproliferin: a liver regeneration factor from rat hepatocytes.

Hepatoproliferin (HPF), a liver regeneration factor that was able to augment the growth of hepatocytes in the presence of EGF, was produced by young rat livers and hepatectomized adult livers (70%), but not by adult intact livers. Therefore only growing and regenerating livers produce HPF. This growth factor was purified into two homogeneous bioactive species having different single SDS-PAGE bands at 18.5 and 14 kDa, and different single pI-bands at pH 4.3 and 8.7, respectively. HPF was synthesized de novo by hepatocytes in the liver as shown by the in vivo incorporation of radiolabeled 35S-sulfate and 14C/3H-glucosamine. This radioactive HPF was secreted ex vivo by hepatocytes, probably to act as an autocrinal hepatomitogen since 90% was found in the growth medium. HPF was neither a classical peptido-mitogen nor a heparin binding growth factor, but a liver-originated non-proteinaceous factor, which probably contains sulfonated saccharides such as glucosamine sulfate. HPF was neither a polyglycan nor a glycopeptide nor a peptidoglycan.

Amino Acids↗

Parenteral monoacetoacetin and liver regeneration interaction after partial hepatectomy in the rat.

Parenteral nutrients can be used to manipulate cell proliferation after partial hepatectomy. The relationship among macronutrients--glucose, monoacetoacetin, amino acids--and liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy was investigated. Male rats were anesthetized, received a 70% hepatectomy, and received a low-dose infusion of (1) glucose or (2) monoacetoacetin and a high-dose infusion of (3) glucose, (4) glycerol-glucose, or (5) monoacetoacetin-glucose beginning 6 hours after surgery. The five nonprotein nutrient combinations were infused with and without amino acids. Rats were killed 48 hours after partial hepatectomy, and the label and mitotic indices were determined. Each of the five treatments had a higher label index with amino acids present than with amino acids absent. Low-dose glucose and monoacetoacetin as well as high-dose glucose and glucose-glycerol had higher mitotic indices with amino acids than without amino acids. High-dose monoacetoacetin-glucose was associated with a greater mitotic index than was any other nonprotein substrate treatment, and this response was independent of amino acids being present or absent. In summary, (1) amino acids were needed for maximal cell proliferation rate; (2) the absence of amino acids and not the presence of glucose resulted in reduction of the label and mitotic indices for regenerating liver; (3) high-dose monoacetoacetin increased mitosis with or without amino acids; and (4) monoacetoacetin activity was dose dependent. The results indicate that the best nutrient for treatment of patients with liver injury is acetoacetate. The second best nutrient would be the combination of high-dose glucose and amino acids.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acetoacetates↗

[Expression of the protein kinase C genes during liver regeneration].

Protein kinase C (PKC) plays an important role in intracellular signaling. PKC consists of a family of at least eight distinct enzymes. How PKC can be responded to liver regeneration and growth is largely unknown. In an in vivo experiment, regenerating liver after partial hepatectomy (Hx) and carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) administration, expression of the PKC alpha-type was increased, with a single peak, after Hx and CCl4 administration. On the other hand, the PKC epsilon-type gene was activated with biphasic peaks following Hx but was elevated with a single peak after the CCl4 administration. In an in vitro experiment using primary cultured hepatocytes, both of the PKC alpha-type and epsilon-type genes could be induced only by combination of insulin and serum. These results demonstrate that both isoforms of PKC are identically regulated by extra- and intracellular stimuli, thereby influencing growth control of hepatocytes.

Animals↗

Liver regeneration after major hepatectomy for biliary cancer.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate serial changes in liver volume after major hepatectomy for biliary cancer and to elucidate clinical factors influencing liver regeneration. METHODS: Serial changes in liver volume were determined, using computed tomography, in 81 patients with biliary cancer who underwent right hepatic lobectomy or more extensive liver resection with or without portal vein resection and/or pancreatoduodenectomy. Possible factors influencing liver regeneration were evaluated by univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: The remnant mean(s.d.) liver volume was 41(8) per cent straight after hepatectomy. This increased rapidly to 59(9) per cent within 2 weeks, then increased more slowly, finally reaching a plateau at 74(12) per cent about 1 year after hepatectomy. The regeneration rate within the first 2 weeks was 16(8) cm3/day and was not related to the extent of posthepatectomy liver dysfunction. On multivariate analysis, the extent of liver resection (P < 0.001), body surface area (P = 0.02), combined portal vein resection (P = 0.024) and preoperative portal vein embolization (P = 0.047) were significantly associated with the liver regeneration rate within the first 2 weeks. In addition, body surface area (P < 0.001) and liver function expressed as plasma clearance rate of indocyanine green (P = 0.01) were significant determinants of final liver volume 1 year after hepatectomy. CONCLUSION: The liver regenerates rapidly in the first 2 weeks after major hepatectomy for biliary cancer. This early regeneration is influenced by four clinical factors. Thereafter, liver regeneration progresses slowly and stops when the liver is three-quarters of its original volume, approximately 6 months to 1 year after hepatectomy.

Adult↗

Effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors on liver regeneration in rats.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: We previously reported that bradykinin augments liver regeneration in rats. The angiotensin-converting enzyme is also a powerful bradykinin-degrading enzyme. METHODOLOGY: Adult rats received lisinopril, captopril, enalaprilat, or saline solution, intraperitoneally, for 5 days before 70% partial hepatectomy, and daily after surgery. They received also losartan and bradykinin. Rats were sacrificed at 12, 24, 36, 48, 72, and 120 hours after hepatectomy. Liver regeneration was evaluated in terms of the restoration of liver weight in proportion to body weight, liver DNA content and immunostaining for proliferating cell nuclear antigen. RESULTS: The proliferating cell nuclear antigen labeling index was higher in the lisinopril-treated group than in the control group at all time points after hepatectomy, except 120 hours. The remnant liver dry weight was higher in lisinopril-treated rats than in control rats at early time points after surgery. The liver DNA content was higher in three angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor-treated groups than in the control group at 36 hours after hepatectomy. The bradykinin-induced regenerative response was similar to the lisinopril-induced response, and losartan induced a lower hepatocyte labeling index in comparison to the control group at 36 hours after hepatectomy. CONCLUSIONS: The present results provide evidence that angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors remarkably enhance liver regeneration.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors↗

Impaired postnatal hepatocyte proliferation and liver regeneration in mice lacking c-jun in the liver.

Mice lacking the AP-1 transcription factor c-jun die at mid-gestation showing heart defects and impaired hepatogenesis. To inactivate c-jun in hepatocytes, mice carrying a floxed c-jun allele were generated. Perinatal liver-specific c-jun deletion caused reduced hepatocyte proliferation and decreased body size. After partial hepatectomy, half of the mutants died and liver regeneration was impaired. This phenotype was not present in mice lacking the N-terminal phosphorylation sites of c-Jun. The failure to regenerate was accompanied by increased cell death and lipid accumulation in hepatocytes. Moreover, cyclin-dependent kinases and several cell cycle regulators were affected, resulting in inefficient G(1)-S phase progression. These studies identify c-Jun as a critical regulator of hepatocyte proliferation and survival during liver development and regeneration.

Animals↗

Inheritance of androgen program of male-specific expression of unusual estrogen-binding protein by daughter hepatocytes at rat liver regeneration.

A possibility of inheritance of androgen and basic genetic programs at the level of unusual estrogen-binding protein (UEBP) by daughter hepatocytes was investigated. Liver regeneration after partial (2/3) hepatectomy or after selective poisoning of hepatocytes of the central zone of hepatic lobules with CCl4 in adult rats were used as models of total and zonal proliferation of hepatocytes, respectively. UEBP content and the pattern of its tissue expression in the course of liver regeneration were monitored by radioligand and immunocytochemical technique. In animals of all groups possessing the androgen program of UEBP expression (intact, castrated and/or hypophysectomized males, and ovariectomized females treated with androgen) UEBP content was shown to be similarly high before initiation and after completion of liver regeneration. Unlike in males, in androgenized females a transient 4-fold increase of UEBP concentration on day 4 after partial hepatectomy was observed. In animals with a basic genetic program at the level of this protein (ovariectomized females, neonatally castrated males) only trace amounts of UEBP were observed in intact as well as in regenerated liver. The data were confirmed by immunocytochemical technique. A gradient mode of distribution of UEBP-contained cells within hepatic lobules with the highest specific staining around central veins was found by immunocytochemical technique in males. Specific staining of centrolobular and periportal hepatocytes was 7- to 10-fold in intact, and 4- to 6-fold in castrated and/or hypophysectomized males. In intact females specific staining was distributed uniformly at extremely low levels similar to that in periportal hepatocytes of males. Androgen administration to ovariectomized females stimulated a significant and stable increase of UEBP content in two layers of hepatocytes surrounding the central vein. Profiles of specific staining of hepatocytes within the hepatic lobules similar to that in control animals were observed after the completion of liver regeneration of different groups of rats. The results obtained suggest all the hepatocytes to be targets for androgen programming, natural in males or experimental in females, while the extent of expression of this program depends on the position of a hepatocyte within the liver lobules and the sex of the animal.

Androgens↗

Rate of restoration of cardiolipin and other major phospholipids during liver regeneration in rat.

The rate of restoration of liver phospholipids, especially cardiolipin, during liver regeneration after two-thirds partial hepatectomy, was studied. Preoperative content of cardiolipin was not restored during the first week of regeneration, while this was the case for the other major liver phospholipids. The observations are discussed in relation to the morphogenesis of mitochondria during liver regeneration.

Animals↗

Hepatic collagen synthesis and degradation during liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy.

To elucidate hepatic collagen metabolism during liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy, we measured collagen content, collagen synthesis, and collagen-degrading enzyme activity in the remnant livers of rats 3, 5, 7, and 14 days after a partial hepatectomy of 68%. Hepatic collagen synthesis was significantly higher 3, 5, and 7 days after partial hepatectomy than it was in sham-operated control rats, but there was no such difference 14 days after surgery, the maximal hepatic collagen synthesis being observed 5 days after surgery. Although the collagen concentration in the remnant liver was similar to that in the control liver, the total collagen content of the remnant liver increased rapidly with liver regeneration until 7 days after partial hepatectomy. Hepatic collagenase activity was similar to the control; however, hepatic cathepsin B and cathepsin L activity and the intracellular degradation of newly synthesized collagen were markedly decreased 3, 5, and 7 days after partial hepatectomy compared with the controls. Hepatic collagen synthesis was significantly and inversely correlated with cathepsin L activity and with the intracellular degradation of newly synthesized collagen. These findings suggest that a combination of increased collagen synthesis and decreased intracellular collagen degradation contributes to the rapid supply of collagen that is observed during the early phase of liver regeneration.

Animals↗

Mechanism and significance of increased glutathione level in human hepatocellular carcinoma and liver regeneration.

Increased glutathione (GSH) level occurs early during liver regeneration and in many drug and/or radiation-resistant tumors. Whether GSH level is elevated in liver cancer is unknown. GSH levels and expression of GSH synthetic enzymes were measured in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and normal liver. GSH levels doubled in HCC. The mRNA levels of g-glutamylcysteine synthetase heavy subunit (GCS-HS) and GSH synthetase (GS) doubled, whereas the expression of GCS light subunit was unchanged. Nuclear run-on assay showed that the rate of gene transcription doubled for both GCS-HS and GS. In HCC, there is increased binding to anti-oxidant response, AP-1 and NF-kB, three cis-acting elements in the 5'-flanking region of the human GCS-HS important for its transcriptional regulation. The role of GSH in cell growth was examined by using HepG2 cells. Cell GSH level was varied by treating cells with cystine (0 to 0.2 mM) with or without GSH ester or buthionine sulfoximine. Cell GSH level correlated directly with growth rate. Finally, preventing the increase in GSH after two-thirds partial hepatectomy blunted liver regeneration. Thus, GSH level is increased during liver growth as a result of up-regulation of GCS-HS and GS. This increase, in turn, facilitates growth.

Antioxidants↗

Overexpression of ABIN-2, a negative regulator of NF-kappaB, delays liver regeneration in the ABIN-2 transgenic mice.

Activation of NF-kappaB is one of the earliest responses at the start of liver regeneration, and is required for hepatocyte cell cycle progression. The A20-binding inhibitor of NF-kappaB activation-2, ABIN-2, is an inhibitor of NF-kappaB. However, its effects on hepatocyte cell cycle progression are not known and its involvement in liver regeneration has not been explored. In this study, the temporal expression pattern of the mouse ABIN-2 was studied during liver regeneration induced by partial hepatectomy. We demonstrate that ABIN-2 is rapidly and transiently induced, and expression peaked at around 8h post-hepatectomy. To test that the inducible expression of ABIN-2 serves to regulate NF-kappaB during liver regeneration, transgenic mice overexpressing human ABIN-2 protein in the liver were generated. Our transgenic data demonstrated that overexpression of ABIN-2 inhibited NF-kappaB nuclear translocation, which peaked at around 2-4h post-hepatectomy, and this led to an impairment of the G1/S transition as well as a delay in hepatocyte cell cycle progression of the regenerating liver. In addition, overexpression of ABIN-2 specifically inhibited endogenous ABIN-2 mRNA induction, suggesting a negative feedback mechanism for ABIN-2 expression. In conclusion, ABIN-2 may function as a negative regulator that downregulates NF-kappaB activation during liver regeneration.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

Acid-labile subunit regulation during the early stages of liver regeneration: implications for glucoregulation.

The initiation of liver regeneration is regulated by endogenously produced growth factors and cytokines and is accompanied by suppression of growth hormone (GH) binding to hepatocytes. We have demonstrated some of these factors, particularly GH, which modulate acid-labile subunit (ALS) expression in vitro. Consequently, we investigated ALS hepatic mRNA and serum levels in rats for 24 h after partial hepatectomy (PHx). There was a significant suppression of ALS gene expression (approximately 50%, P < 0.005) and serum levels (approximately 30%, P < 0.02) by 12 h in PHx rats relative to controls. Relative to intact animals, hepatic mRNA and serum levels of ALS were suppressed by approximately 60% at 24 h. Similarly, hepatic GH receptor mRNA levels were significantly reduced in PHx animals. Moreover, hepatocytes isolated from PHx animals were less responsive to GH than those from controls. Overall, our results demonstrate that suppression of ALS gene expression and serum levels during liver regeneration relates to lowered hepatic GH sensitivity. Suppressed circulating ALS may alter insulin-like growth factor bioavailability and constitute a mechanism to maintain relatively normal glucoregulation after loss of liver mass.

Animals↗