Expressions of molecules associated with hepatocyte growth factor activation after hepatectomy in liver cirrhosis.
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.
Kaido
Toshimi
T
Department of Surgery, Otsu Municipal Hospital, Otsu, Japan. kaido3@hotmail.com
Oe
Hideaki
H
Yoshikawa
Akira
A
Okajima
Ai
A
Imamura
Masayuki
M
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
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