Transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-alpha) expression correlates with DNA replication in regenerating rat liver whatever the hepatectomy extent.
Liver regeneration is a physiological mechanism that leads to restoration of the hepatic parenchyma following hepatectomy or toxic injury. As a two-third hepatectomy is the usual model to analyse this phenomenon, few studies have compared liver regeneration after minor vs major hepatectomy. We have used a quantitative RT-PCR technique to study the hepatic transcription of the TGF-alpha gene in rats submitted to 30% or 80% hepatectomy and we have correlated this transcription with the regenerative response assessed by flow cytometry and Ki-67 expression. The level of TGF-alpha expression and the regenerative response were different, according to the volume of liver removed, and were statistically correlated (r = 0.679, p = 0.002). TGF-alpha expression and phase S peaked at day 2 vs 6 in the 80% vs 30% hepatectomized rat groups, respectively. Ki-67 expression occurred at 2 h post-hepatectomy in the two groups of rats and was observed until day 14 mainly in the 80% hepatectomy group. Our results indicate that TGF-alpha expression in regenerating liver is strongly correlated with hepatocyte mitosis, that a delayed regenerative response occurs following 30% hepatectomy and that the course of regeneration differs between minor vs major hepatectomy.
Scotté
M
M
INSERM U 78 and Institut Fédératif de Recherche Multidisciplinaire sur les Peptides Bois-Guillaume, France.
Laquerrière
A
A
Masson
S
S
Hiron
M
M
Ténière
P
P
Hémet
J
J
Lebreton
J P
JP
Daveau
M
M
D000818:Animals; D017931:DNA Primers; D004261:DNA Replication; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015870:Gene Expression; D006498:Hepatectomy; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008115:Liver Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012044:Regression Analysis; D016196:S Phase / Q000502:physiology; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*
D017931:DNA Primers; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha