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DNA vaccination with AFP-encoding plasmid DNA prevents growth of subcutaneous AFP-expressing tumors and does not interfere with liver regeneration in mice.

The oncofetal alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is reexpressed in the majority of hepatocellular carcinomas and may be used as a target molecule for an immunotherapy or prophylaxis against this tumor. We investigated the potential of DNA vaccination with AFP-expressing plasmid DNA to induce an immune response against AFP-expressing tumor cells in DBA/2 mice. 62.5% of mice vaccinated with AFP-expressing plasmid DNA, rejected subcutaneous syngeneic AFP-expressing P815 tumors, whereas only 16.7% of mice vaccinated with control plasmid rejected these tumor cells (P=.03). Mean survival of mice after challenge with subcutaneous AFP-expressing tumor cells was prolonged for 8 days in mice vaccinated with AFP-expressing DNA (35 days) compared to mice vaccinated with control plasmid (27 days). To rule out possible autoimmune reactions against regenerating liver, which also reexpresses AFP, we evaluated the influence of AFP-specific DNA vaccination on liver regeneration in DBA/2 mice. Histologic quantification of proliferating hepatocytes and of the amount of necrotic liver tissue in carbon tetrachloride-damaged liver did not reveal statistically significant differences in mice vaccinated with AFP-expressing plasmid compared to control mice. These data suggest that AFP-specific DNA vaccination represents a useful tool to inhibit growth of AFP-expressing tumors in mice that does not affect liver regeneration.

Animals↗

Growth hormone stimulates proliferation of old-aged regenerating liver through forkhead box m1b.

The Forkhead Box (Fox) proteins are an extensive family of transcription factors that shares homology in the winged helix DNA-binding domain and the members of which play essential roles in cellular proliferation, differentiation, and longevity. Reduced cellular proliferation during aging is associated with a progressive decline in both growth hormone (GH) secretion and Foxm1b expression. Liver regeneration studies with 12-month-old (old-aged) transgenic mice indicated that increased hepatocyte expression of Foxm1b alone is sufficient to restore hepatocyte proliferation to levels found in 2-month-old (young) regenerating liver. GH therapy in older people has been shown to cause an increase in cellular proliferation, but the transcription factors that mediated this stimulation in proliferation remain uncharacterized. In this study, we showed that human GH administration to old-aged Balb/c mice dramatically increased both expression of Foxm1b and regenerating hepatocyte proliferation. This increase in old-aged regenerating hepatocyte proliferation was associated with elevated protein expression of Cdc25A, Cdc25B, and cyclin B1, with reduced protein levels of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27(Kip1) (p27). GH treatment also was found to stimulate hepatocyte proliferation and expression of Foxm1b protein without partial hepatectomy (PHx). Furthermore, GH treatment of young Foxm1b -/- mice failed to restore regenerating hepatocyte DNA replication and mitosis caused by Foxm1b deficiency. These genetic studies provided strong evidence that the presence of Foxm1b is essential for GH to stimulate regenerating hepatocyte proliferation. In conclusion, our old-aged liver regeneration studies show that increased Foxm1b levels are essential for GH to stimulate hepatocyte proliferation, thus providing a mechanism for GH action in the elderly.

Aging↗

Alterations in N-linked oligosaccharides of glycoproteins during rat liver regeneration.

[3H]Mannose-labeled glycopeptides in the slices after partial hepatectomy were characterized by column chromatography using Sephadex G-50, DE-52 and Con A-Sepharose, and further by digestion with alpha-mannosidase and endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase H. They contained both 'complex type' and 'high-mannose type' oligosaccharides. A higher proportion of 'complex type' oligosaccharides was contained in regenerating liver 24 h after partial hepatectomy than in control. This tendency was increased gradually with time and was most pronounced at 144 h. In our previous studies, the activities of microsomal N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase towards endogenous and exogenous acceptors at 144 h after partial hepatectomy were shown to exceed most prominently that in control. No differences in the oligosaccharides were observed at 240 h when the deficit of liver had been restored. The oligosaccharides of glycopeptides in the incubation media were mostly 'complex type' and the differences between regenerating liver and control were observed only at 144 h. These results suggest that oligosaccharide processing of glycoproteins is regulated at the transfer step of peripheral N-acetylglucosamine to core oligosaccharides 144 h after partial hepatectomy, and that these alterations in oligosaccharides of glycoproteins may be related to hypertrophy and hyperplasia of hepatic cells in liver regeneration.

Animals↗

[Isolation of regulation genes related with liver regeneration by representational difference analysis].

mRNA isolated from 2/3 partially hepatectomied rats was used as a tester for representational difference analysis (RDA). The subtracted tester cDNA was cloned into a T vector and a rat regeneration liver specific EST pool was constructed, which contained about 30000 independent clones. A sequence analysis of 52 clones randomly picked up from this pool indicated that the liver regeneration specific sequences were enriched, and the results of RNA blots revealed some novel genes in association with liver regeneration.

Animals↗

Effect of thyroparathyroidectomy on the activities of thymidylate synthetase and thymidine kinase during liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy.

Thyroparathyroidectomy (TPTX) carried out at 72 h before partial hepatectomy (PH) reduced the induction of hepatic thymidylate synthetase (TS) and thymidine kinase (TK), which are rate-determining enzymes in DNA synthesis, at 24 h after PH. When TPTX was carried out at 24 h before PH, TK activity at 24 h after PH was not reduced at all, yet TS activity was reduced significantly. Thus the effect of TPTX differed in time dependence between TS and TK. The depression of TK activity in rats which were subjected to TPTX at 72 h before PH, was recovered by Ca2+ supplementation. This result demonstrated that the rise of TK activity in regenerating liver is regulated by plasma Ca2+. Since a high dose of tri-iodothyronine (T3) was required to cause elevation of the activities of these enzymes and DNA content in 24 h-regenerating liver of TPTX rats, the relative contribution of T3 to liver regeneration may be small.

Animals↗

The sex difference in the regulation of liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy in the rat.

The increases in the activity of hepatic thymidylate synthetase and thymidine kinase, which catalyzes the formation of thymidylate via the de novo and salvage pathways, respectively, were significantly suppressed 24 h after 70% partial hepatectomy in female rats administered either alpha- or beta-adrenoreceptor antagonists. The injection of beta-antagonist to male or ovariectomized female rats had no effect on the activities of these enzymes. Only alpha-adrenoceptor antagonist depressed these enzymatic activities of 24-h-regenerating liver in male and ovariectomized female rats. The decrease of the activities of thymidylate synthetase and thymidine kinase was accompanied by a concomitant reduction of DNA content in 24-h-regenerating liver. It is concluded that catecholamine regulates the female rat liver regeneration through both alpha- and beta-adrenergic pathways by the inductions of thymidylate synthase and thymidine kinase, while in adult male and ovariectomized female rats, only the alpha-mediated pathway is involved.

Animals↗

Characterization of a nuclear factor that binds to AP1-like element in the rat p53 promoter during liver regeneration.

The transcription level of the rat p53 gene increases at 5-12 h in the regenerating liver after partial hepatectomy. It was previously reported that an activator protein 1 (AP1)-like element (-264--284) mediated the induced transcription of the rat p53 gene during liver regeneration. In this study, we characterize the protein binding to the AP1-like element by various methods. Oligonucleotide competition assays showed that the binding protein did not require AP1 consensus sequence. Therefore, the binding protein is not an AP1 family protein. Zn(2+) was required for maximum DNA-binding activity of the protein, suggesting that the binding protein contains zinc fingers. The binding protein was highly resistant to denaturant. Even 1.8 M urea did not eliminate the protein-DNA complexes. In addition, the binding protein was stable up to 55 degrees C. The protein-DNA complexes were abolished in the presence of 0.6 M NaCl and higher. Protease clipping assay showed that the protein had a protease-resistant core DNA binding domain. These results provided new insights into the structure of the protein that binds to the AP1-like element of the p53 promoter during liver regeneration.

Animals↗

Effect of Picibanil (OK-432) on the scavenging effect of free radicals produced during liver regeneration in the rat.

We administered a biological response modifier Picibanil (OK-432), attenuated Streptococcus pyogenes, via the dorsal vein of the penis after 70% hepatectomy in rats, and clarified the scavenging effect of Picibanil on free radicals generated in the regenerating liver. A group of 5 rats was intravenously administered with 25 KE/kg of OK-432 after hepatectomy, while the control group was given saline after hepatectomy. Serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase and the value of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances in serum and hepatic tissue after hepatectomy were serially measured, and these values were significantly lower in Picibanil treated animals than in control animals. Free radical production in the regenerating liver was also measured by electron spin resonance spectrometry, and OK-432 injection significantly reduced free radical production. These results suggested that OK-432 reduced hepatocellular damage in regenerating liver by inhibiting lipid peroxidation.

Alanine Transaminase↗

Mitogenic up-regulation of the PRL-1 protein-tyrosine phosphatase gene by Egr-1. Egr-1 activation is an early event in liver regeneration.

The cellular signals that initiate cell growth are incompletely understood. Insight could be provided by understanding the signals regulating the transcriptional induction of immediate-early genes which occurs within minutes of the growth stimulus. The expression of the PRL-1 gene, which encodes a unique nuclear protein-tyrosine phosphatase, is rapidly induced in regenerating liver and mitogen-treated cells. Transcription of the PRL-1 gene increased in the rat liver remnant within a few minutes after partial hepatectomy and largely explained the increase in steady-state PRL-1 mRNA in the first few hours posthepatectomy. Egr-1 (early growth response factor) specifically bound a region of the proximal PRL-1 promoter P1 (-99). Egr-1 binding activity was more rapidly induced in regenerating liver than mitogen-treated H35 and NIH 3T3 cells, remained elevated through 4 h posthepatectomy, and appeared to be dependent not only on new Egr-1 protein synthesis but on post-translational regulation of Egr-1. Egr-1 efficiently transactivated a PRL-1 promoter reporter construct containing an intact not mutant Egr-1 site, and the Egr-1 site largely accounted for PRL-1 gene up-regulation in response to mitogen stimulation. These data predict that Egr-1 activation is an early event in liver regeneration and mitogen-activated cells that provides a regulatory stimulus for a subset of immediate-early genes.

3T3 Cells↗

Enhancement of gamma-actin protein during liver regeneration: its accumulation in a region adjacent to the hepatocyte plasma membrane.

We identified a protein with a molecular weight of about 44 kDa in an extract of rat regenerating liver. This protein was undetectable in normal, sham-operated, and completely regenerated liver. We also purified this 44-kDa protein from an extract of rat liver remnant after partial hepatectomy. The partial amino acid sequences of the purified protein were identical to those of gamma-actin in non-muscle cells. In addition, anti-pan actin antibody recognized the purified 44-kDa protein, whereas anti-muscle actin and anti-beta-actin antibodies did not. Thus, we concluded that the 44-kDa protein was non-muscle gamma-actin. An immunohistochemical study revealed that the non-muscle gamma-actin accumulated next to the plasma membrane of liver parenchymal cells during regeneration. Moreover, the gamma-actin level was augmented in primary cultured rat hepatocytes prior to DNA synthesis. Intracellular gamma-actin in cultured hepatocytes was distributed across the entire basal plane after stimulation with hepatocyte mitogens. This change in the distribution of gamma-actin correlated with the cell spreading that occurred during the G1/S phase transition. These findings indicated that gamma-actin plays specific roles in the growth of liver parenchymal cells during liver regeneration.

Actins↗

Effect of calcium channel blockers and trifluoperazine on rat liver regeneration.

The activity of hepatic thymidylate synthetase and thymidine kinase at 24 h after 70% partial hepatectomy of rats was suppressed significantly compared with that in the control group by the administration of calcium channel blockers (verapamil, diltiazem and nifedipine) 8 h after partial hepatectomy. The decrease of thymidylate synthetase and thymidine kinase activities was accompanied by a reduction of DNA content in 24 h regenerating liver. Trifluoperazine showed an effect similar to that of the calcium channel blockers on DNA synthesis during liver regeneration. These results suggest that calcium entry into the hepatic cell is an essential event in liver regeneration.

Animals↗

Effect of retinoic acid-induced transglutaminase on cell growth in regenerating liver.

Transglutaminase 2 (TG2) is implicated in the inhibitory regulation of the hepatocyte growth in vitro. In vivo, however, the role of TG2 in liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy (PH) is almost unknown. A dramatic increase of TG2 expression and activation is induced by retinoic acid (RA). Here we show the effect of the RA-induced overexpression of TG2 on liver regeneration after PH. Regenerating rat liver was prepared by 70% PH. RA was intraperitoneally injected immediately after PH. TG2 activity was determined by incorporation of 14C-putrescine into dimethylcasein. Cell cycle was evaluated for incorporation of BrdU into hepatocytes and detected by a flow cytometric analysis. The treatment of RA greatly increased TG2 activity at 1 day after PH. At that time, DNA synthesis was significantly reduced by the treatment of RA. The recovery of liver weight after PH was significantly delayed by the treatment of RA. These results suggested that TG2 was involved in growth capacity in regenerating rat liver after PH.

Animals↗

Effect of alpha 1-adrenergic blockade on nucleolar growth, chromatin relaxation, and histone H1(0) content in regenerating liver.

alpha 1-Adrenergic agonists are known to be involved in the regulation of hepatocyte proliferation after a partial hepatectomy. The blockade of alpha 1-adrenergic receptors with the specific antagonist prazosin inhibits DNA synthesis which peaks at 24 h after surgery. In this report we have studied the effects of prazosin administration on several events occurring during liver regeneration. The results show that the nuclear volume and nucleolar volume density of hepatocytes were increased and that the relative amount of heterochromatin decreased at 24 h. The increase in hepatocyte nucleolar volume density and the decrease in the relative amount of heterochromatin were partially abolished by prazosin administration while the increase in the nuclear volume was not affected. The relative amount of the histone H1 variant H1(0) was reduced in 24-h regenerating liver and prazosin treatment prevented this reduction.

Animals↗

Regenerating livers of old rats contain high levels of C/EBPalpha that correlate with altered expression of cell cycle associated proteins.

The nuclear transcription factor, CCAAT/enhancer binding protein alpha (C/EBPalpha) is expressed at high levels in the liver and inhibits growth in cultured cells. We have tested the correlation between C/EBPalpha levels, cell cycle proteins and hepatocyte proliferation in old and young animals as an in vivo model system in which the proliferative response to partial hepatectomy (PH) has been shown to be reduced and delayed in old animals. Here we present evidence that the expression of C/EBPalpha in old rats (24 months) differs from its expression in young animals (6-10 months) during liver regeneration. Induction of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), a marker of DNA synthesis, occurs at 24 h after PH in young rats but is delayed and reduced in old animals. Induction of the mitotic-specific protein, cdc2 p34, is 3-4-fold less in regenerating liver of old rats than in the liver of young animals, confirming the reduced proliferative response in old animals. In young rats, the normal regenerative response involves a reduction of 3-4-fold in the levels of C/EBPalpha protein at 3-24 h. In old animals, C/EBPalpha is not reduced within 24 h after PH, but a decrease of C/EBPalpha protein levels can be detected at 72 h after PH. Induction of C/EBPbeta, another member of the C/EBP family, is delayed in old animals. Changes in the expression of C/EBP proteins are accompanied by alteration of the CDK inhibitor, p21, which is also decreased in young rats after PH, but in old animals remains unchanged. High levels of p21 protein in older animals correlate with the lack of cdk2 activation. We suggest that the failure to reduce the amount of C/EBPalpha and p21 is a critical event in the dysregulation of hepatocyte proliferation in old animals following PH.

Aging↗

Gene expression in regenerating liver in relation to cell proliferation and stress.

When hepatocyte proliferation is stimulated in the liver by partial hepatectomy, messenger RNAs coding for fibrinogen, actin, c-myc and topoisomerase I are rapidly accumulated. We distinguish an early phase of accumulation (0-3 h after partial hepatectomy) which is also observed after a sham operation for the four genes, and during inflammation produced by Freund's adjuvant in the case of fibrinogen and c-myc genes. The hepatic response to inflammation appears therefore to mimic events characteristic of the G0/G1 transition, such as the accumulation of the c-myc mRNA. The late phase of mRNA accumulation (beyond 3 h after partial hepatectomy) is typical of liver regeneration. The level of c-myc mRNA is transiently increased (20-fold over normal) 20 h after partial hepatectomy, that is, at the time of DNA synthesis. Topoisomerase-I mRNA level increases between 3 and 24 h after partial hepatectomy (5-10-fold over normal). These results suggest that accumulation of c-myc and topoisomerase-I mRNAs is associated with DNA replication in regenerating liver.

Actins↗