Expression of bcl-2 gene family during resection induced liver regeneration: comparison between hepatectomized and sham groups.
OBJECTIVE
During liver regeneration cellular proliferation and apoptosis result in tissue remodeling to restore normal hepatic mass and structure. Main regulators of the apoptotic machinery are the Bcl-2 family proteins but their roles are not well defined throughout the liver regeneration. We aimed to analyze the expression levels of bcl-2 gene family members during resection induced liver regeneration.


METHODS
We performed semi-quantitative RT-PCR to examine the expression level of bak, bax, bcl-2 and bcl-xL in 70% hepatectomized rat livers during the whole regeneration process and compared to that of the sham and normal groups.


RESULTS
The expression of bak and bax was decreased whereas that of bcl-2 and bcl-xL was increased in hepatectomized animals compared to normal liver at most time points. We also reported for the first time that sham group of animals had statistically significant higher expression of bak and bax than hepatectomized animals. In addition, the area under the curve (AUC) values of these genes was larger in sham groups than the hepatectomized groups.


CONCLUSIONS
The expression changes of bak, bax, bcl-2 and bcl-xL genes are altered not only due to regeneration, but also due to effects of surgical operations.
Akcali
Kamil Can
KC
Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Bilkent University, Bilkent, Ankara 06800, Turkey. akcali@fen.bilkent.edu.tr
Dalgic
Aydin
A
Ucar
Ahmet
A
Haj
Khemaeis Ben
KB
Guvenc
Dilek
D
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000502:physiology; D006498:Hepatectomy; D008115:Liver Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D050998:bcl-2 Homologous Antagonist-Killer Protein; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D051020:bcl-X Protein
C494774:Bak1 protein, rat; C494828:Bax protein, rat; C494813:Bcl2l1 protein, rat; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D050998:bcl-2 Homologous Antagonist-Killer Protein; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D051020:bcl-X Protein