[Expression of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) in LEC rats at various phases of hepatitis and hepatoma].
The role of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) in LEC rats were investigated at various phases of liver diseases by the detection of HGF expression, using ELISA assay, mRNA analysis and immunohistochemistry. Levels of plasma HGF increase in the fulminant hepatitis phase, decreased during chronic/cholangiofibrosis phase, and in some LEC rats, high levels of HGF were observed in hepatoma phase. HGF mRNA level in the liver was very high in fulminant hepatitis phase and low in chronic hepatitis phase. In hepatoma phase, HGF mRNA level was intermediate or high in the liver. In fulminant hepatitis phase, HGF mRNA level in the lung was slightly increased, while it was almost stable in the kidney in all the conditions studied. Immunohistochemical studies revealed that the frequency of HGF positive cells increased remarkably in fulminant hepatitis phase, and that many of them were located at the portal triads. Fewer HGF-positive cells were found in chronic hepatitis phase and were not found in the tissue of cholangiofibrosis. HGF was found in the surface of hepatocellular carcinoma cells and in the cytoplasm of the non-epithelial cells in cancerous liver tissues. HGF-positive cells appeared 24h after partial hepatectomy, diffusely, and HGF mRNA increased earlier in the kidney and lung than in the liver. Moreover, HGF mRNA level was higher in the lung than in the liver. These results suggest that in the natural course of spontaneous hepatitis and hepatoma in LEC rats, HGF is expressed mainly in the liver and that HGF may play an important role in the regeneration of hepatocytes in a paracrine manner. In contrast, after partial hepatectomy, HGF produced in the lung may be effective for liver regeneration in an endocrine manner.
Nakayama
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Second Department of Internal Medicine, Hokkaido University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan.
D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006520:Hepatitis, Animal / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D008114:Liver Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008115:Liver Regeneration; D008297:Male; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor