Differential regenerative response and expression of growth factors following hepatectomy of variable extent in rats.
OBJECTIVE
Liver regeneration is a physiological mechanism which leads to restoration of the hepatic parenchyma following hepatectomy or toxic injury. This process is mediated by a wide variety of cytokines and growth factors. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the influence of hepatectomy extent on the levels of intrahepatic mRNAs for cell-cycle markers and growth factors in rats submitted to a 30%, two-third or 80% hepatectomy.


METHODS
Cyclins, thymidine kinase and growth factors mRNA levels were quantitatively assessed by RT-PCR at different time points post-hepatectomy (2h, 6h, 12h, days 1, 2, 6).


RESULTS
As compared with a two-third hepatectomy, cyclins and thymidine kinase mRNA levels were increased but with a delayed peak at day 2 in the 80% hepatectomy group and showed a progressive increase until day 6 in the 30% hepatectomy group; mRNA levels for HGF or TGFalpha were increased with a delayed peak at 12 h or day 2 in the 80% hepatectomy group, respectively and this delay was more pronounced in the 30% hepatectomy group with a peak at day 1 or day 6.


CONCLUSIONS
A regenerative response occurs whatever the extent of hepatectomy but the course of regeneration and expression of growth factors differs according to the volume of resected liver. A better knowledge of these events could improve the clinical results of hepatic resection for primary or metastatic liver disease.
Masson
S
S
Inserm U519 and Institut Fédératif de Recherches, Faculté de Médecine-Pharmacie, Rouen, France.
Daveau
M
M
Hiron
M
M
Lyoumi
S
S
Lebreton
J P
JP
Ténière
P
P
Scotté
M
M
D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000235:genetics; D016213:Cyclins / Q000378:metabolism; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000737:chemistry; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006498:Hepatectomy; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000601:surgery; D008115:Liver Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013937:Thymidine Kinase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D015415:Biomarkers; D016213:Cyclins; D017931:DNA Primers; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor; D013937:Thymidine Kinase