Thymus alteration in hepatic regeneration.
We performed 70% hepatectomy in LEW rats and examined immunologic alterations during hepatic regeneration; especially, thymus weight and cell count, T-cell subpopulations, differentiation ratio of thymocytes (DR) and ratio of T-helper to T-suppressor/cytotoxic cells (Th-Tsc). Strongest liver regeneration was observed on postoperative days 2-5 and it was completed on day 7. During hepatic regeneration a significant thymus atrophy in weight and cell count was found on day 3 and 5, it normalized from the 7th day on. T-cells were highly differentiated during liver regeneration with a DR of 35.7 +/- 2.5%, 64.0 +/- 4.4% and 38.8 +/- 3.0% on postoperative days 3, 5, and 7, respectively, and at the same time Th-Tsc ratio was reduced to 0.57 +/- 0.11, 0.38 +/- 0.04 and 0.57 +/- 0.05, respectively. DR and Th-Tsc ratio showed a trend to normalization from the 7th day on. No changes of thymus and T-cell subpopulations occurred in a sham-operated control group. Since we found such thymus alterations also in spontaneous or drug induced tolerant graft recipients, we conclude that the hepatic regenerative potential possesses a suppressive effect on immune responses.
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001284:Atrophy; D002452:Cell Count; D008099:Liver / Q000276:immunology* / Q000601:surgery; D008115:Liver Regeneration; D009929:Organ Size; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal