Studies on mechanisms of augmentation of liver regeneration by cyclosporine and FK 506.
Evidence could not be found of immune modulation of liver regeneration. The powerful immunosuppressive drug FK 506, which augments the response after partial hepatectomy in normal rats, had the same effect in T cell-deficient nude rats. The cytotoxicity of natural killer cells in treated nude rats was not significantly changed by FK 506 therapy. However, the serum of FK 506-treated nude rats increased hepatocyte proliferation when added to third-party hepatocyte cultures, suggesting that FK 506 had induced a serum growth factor in the nude rats or had suppressed an inhibitory factor. A hypothesis was advanced that FK 506 (and cyclosporine) affects hepatic growth by nonimmunological pathways.
Francavilla
A
A
Department of Surgery, University Health Center of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213.
Starzl
T E
TE
Barone
M
M
Zeng
Q H
QH
Porter
K A
KA
Zeevi
A
A
Markus
P M
PM
van den Brink
M R
MR
Todo
S
S
D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003524:Cyclosporins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004247:DNA / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008115:Liver Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D011923:Rats, Nude / Q000097:blood; D016559:Tacrolimus
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D003524:Cyclosporins; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D004247:DNA; D016559:Tacrolimus