title: Expressions of molecules associated with hepatocyte growth factor activation after hepatectomy in liver cirrhosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The activation pathway of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), including HGF activator (HGFA) and HGFA inhibitor-1, 2 (HAI-1, 2), has recently been clarified. The present study examined mRNA expressions of HGF, HGFA and HAI-1 following partial hepatectomy in normal and cirrhotic rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Liver cirrhosis was induced by intraperitoneal injections of dimethylnitrosamine. Two weeks after, the cirrhotic and normal rats underwent 70% hepatectomy and the liver regeneration rate, DNA synthesis of hepatocytes, plasma HGF level, and mRNA expressions of HGF, HGFA, and HAI-1 in the liver, spleen, and lung were examined at different times.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Liver regeneration in the cirrhotic rats was deteriorated with a later peak of hepatocellular DNA synthesis. Hepatic HGF mRNA and splenic HAI-1 mRNA were upregulated and liver HGFA mRNA was downregulated in the cirrhotic rats.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Insufficient HGF activation both by a reduced expression of hepatic HGFA and an increased expression of splenic HAI-1 may be one of the reasons for the impaired liver regeneration in cirrhosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Otsu Municipal Hospital, Otsu, Japan. kaido3@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Toshimi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kaido
authors.forename: Hideaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Oe
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yoshikawa
authors.forename: Ai
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Okajima
authors.forename: Masayuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Imamura
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D015536:Down-Regulation; D006498:Hepatectomy; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000601:surgery; D008115:Liver Regeneration; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism*; D014360:Trypsin Inhibitor, Kunitz Soybean / Q000378:metabolism*; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; C109148:SPINT2 protein, human; C504592:Spint1 protein, rat; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor; D014360:Trypsin Inhibitor, Kunitz Soybean; C081092:HGF activator; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases