Von Willebrand factor in plasma and in liver tissue after partial hepatectomy in the rat.
OBJECTIVE
Von Willebrand factor (vWf) is found in high levels in plasma of patients with acute and chronic liver disease. The role of vWf in liver injury and repair is unknown. We studied the effect of liver mass and remodeling on plasma and tissue vWf after partial hepatectomy.


METHODS
Rats were sacrificed postoperatively at intervals ranging from 60 min to 5 days, and vWf plasma levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, using rabbit anti-human vWf, and by immunoperoxidase on cryosections, using rabbit anti-vWf/factor VIII. Northern blot hybridization was prepared with a complementary DNA specific to human vWf.


RESULTS
vWf plasma levels increased early after sham operation and after 70% partial hepatectomy. The highest levels were reached at 24 h, remaining high for 5 days. Immunostaining showed intense staining of sinusoidal lining cells 4 h after partial hepatectomy, remaining so for 5 days. Non-significant changes in overall liver messenger RNA expression of vWf were seen over 5 days in sham operation and partial hepatectomy.


CONCLUSIONS
After partial hepatectomy, plasma vWf is increased, probably due to both acute-phase reaction and decreased degradation. An increase in sinusoidal vWf immunostaining may suggest a role for this factor in tissue remodeling.
Baruch
Yaacov
Y
Liver Unit, Rambam Medical Center, PO Box 9602, 31096 Haifa, Israel. ybaruch@rambam.health.gov.il
Neubauer
Katrin
K
Shenkar
Larissa
L
Sabo
Edmond
E
Ritzel
Andreas
A
Wilfling
Thomas
T
Ramadori
Giuliano
G
D000818:Animals; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression; D006487:Hemostasis / Q000502:physiology; D006498:Hepatectomy; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000601:surgery; D008115:Liver Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014841:von Willebrand Factor / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014841:von Willebrand Factor