title: Growth-related signaling regulates activation of telomerase in regenerating hepatocytes.
abstract: Although there have been many reports on the relationship between activation of telomerase and carcinogenesis, the role of telomerase in normal cellular growth is still unclear. In this study, we analyzed the relationship between upregulation of telomerase activity and cell cycle progression during the liver regeneration process by using an in vivo mouse two-thirds partial hepatectomy (PH) model as well as by using in vitro hepatocyte culture systems. Furthermore, we also investigated the effects of growth factors on telomerase activity during liver regeneration and the influence of MAPK pathway inhibitors (MEK inhibitors PD98059 and U0126; p38 MAPK inhibitor SB203580) on the telomerase activity of regenerating hepatocytes in vitro. An upregulation of the telomerase activity was found at 24 h after PH, and thereafter an increase in the S-phase fraction was observed at 36-48 h. There was no remarkable change in the telomere length after PH. Preoperative treatment with EGF and HGF increased the in vivo telomerase activity. In a hepatocyte primary culture, the upregulation of the telomerase activity required the presence of EGF, and this upregulation was accelerated by the addition of HGF. A remarkable activation of p44/42 MAPK was seen but no such activation of p38 MAPK was observed at 48 h after PH. Although SB203580 had no effect on the telomerase activity of regenerating hepatocytes, treatment with MEK inhibitors (PD 98059, U0126) significantly repressed the telomerase activity. In conclusion, the telomerase activity is upregulated before hepatocytes enter the S phase, and both EGF and HGF play important roles in this step. In addition, the activation of the p44/42 MAPK pathway seems to play an essential role in telomerase upregulation during the liver regeneration process.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, National Defense Medical College, 3-2 Namiki, Tokorozawa, Saitama 359-8513, Japan.
authors.forename: Takuo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Inui
authors.forename: Nariyoshi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shinomiya
authors.forename: Masashi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fukasawa
authors.forename: Megumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Noritsugu
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kuranaga
authors.forename: Shuri
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ohkura
authors.forename: Shuhji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Seki
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002453:Cell Cycle; D002455:Cell Division; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D008115:Liver Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D019098:Telomerase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016615:Telomere; D015854:Up-Regulation; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D019098:Telomerase