title: Hepatic expression of hepatocyte-growth-factor-like/macrophage-stimulating protein mRNA in fulminant hepatic failure.
abstract: We investigated whether impaired Kupffer cell phagocytosis in fulminant hepatic failure could be due to reduced synthesis of hepatocyte-growth-factor-like/macrophage-stimulating protein (HGFL/MSP), a serum protein synthesised predominantly in hepatocytes and required by tissue macrophages for phagocytosis. Hepatic expression of the 3.0 kb HGFL/MSP mRNA, assessed by northern hybridisation, was lower in nine patients with fulminant hepatic failure undergoing liver transplantation than in three liver grafts as controls (median absorbance units 97 [range 15-1200] versus 1114 [1100-1120], respectively; p < 0.05). Decreased hepatic HGFL/MSP production might cause impaired Kupffer cell phagocytosis in fulminant hepatic failure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine, King's College School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, UK.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Harrison
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Degen
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Farzaneh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006501:Hepatic Encephalopathy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor; D006801:Humans; D007728:Kupffer Cells / Q000502:physiology; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D010587:Phagocytosis; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D006133:Growth Substances; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C082332:macrophage stimulating protein; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor