Effects of nuclear factor-kappaB on rat hepatocyte regeneration and apoptosis after 70% portal branch ligation.
OBJECTIVE
To detect the DNA binding activity of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) in rat hepatocyte and to investigate the effects of NF-kappaB on rat hepatocyte regeneration and apoptosis after 70% portal branch ligation.


METHODS
Sixty Wistar rats were randomly divided into control group and portal branch ligation group. The animals were killed 12 h, 1, 2, 3, 7, and 14 d after surgery to determine the contents of plasma ALT. Hepatocytes were isolated and nuclear protein was extracted. DNA binding activity of NF-kappaB was measured by EMSA. Hepatocyte regeneration and apoptosis were observed under microscope by TUNEL staining. The ultrastructural changes of liver were observed under electron microscope.


RESULTS
Seventy percent portal branch ligation produced atrophy of the ligated lobes and the perfused lobes underwent compensatory regeneration, the total liver weight and plasma ALT levels were maintained at the level of sham-operated animals throughout the experiment. After 2 d of portal branch ligation, DNA binding activity of NF-kappaB in hepatocyte increased and reached its peak, the number of apoptotic hepatocyte in the ligated lobes and the number of mitotic hepatocyte in the perfused lobes also reached their peak. Typical apoptotic changes and evident fibrotic changes in the ligated lobes were observed under electron microscope.


CONCLUSIONS
After 70% portal branch ligation, DNA binding activity of NF-kappaB in hepatocyte is significantly increased and NF-kappaB plays an important role in hepatocyte regeneration and apoptosis.
Yang
Wen-Jun
WJ
Department of General Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, Wenzhou Medical College, Zhejiang Province, China. yangwenjun165@sohu.com
Zhang
Qi-Yu
QY
Yu
Zheng-Ping
ZP
Song
Qi-Tong
QT
Liang
Hua-Ping
HP
Xu
Xiang
X
Zhu
Guan-Bao
GB
Jiang
Fei-Zhao
FZ
Shi
Hong-Qi
HQ
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D008026:Ligation; D008115:Liver Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism*; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000601:surgery*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats
D016328:NF-kappa B