Survivin is upregulated during liver regeneration in rats and humans and is associated with hepatocyte proliferation.
BACKGROUND
Survivin regulates cell division and inhibits apoptosis. Liver regeneration is a complex process involving both proliferation and apoptosis. The role of survivin is not well elucidated and no data exist in humans.


METHODS
Seventy per cent liver resection was used to investigate liver regeneration in rats. Survivin was identified by means of reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Proliferation and apoptosis were quantified. Liver biopsies from 33 patients who underwent living donor liver transplantation were used to study survivin immuno-expression, proliferation and apoptosis within the first 17 days after transplantation. Seven healthy donors served as controls.


RESULTS
Survivin transcript and protein were significantly upregulated in rat hepatocytes after 24-72 h during regeneration and showed a significant correlation with proliferation but not with apoptosis. In humans, survivin was nearly absent in donor and reperfused liver tissue but increased significantly 5-7 days after transplantation and correlated with proliferation but not with apoptosis.


CONCLUSIONS
Survivin is upregulated in human and rodent liver regeneration and correlates with proliferation, suggesting an association of survivin and cell division.
Baba
Hideo A
HA
Institute of Pathology and Neuropathology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany. hideo.baba@uk-essen.de
Wohlschlaeger
Jeremias
J
Schmitz
Klaus J
KJ
Nadalin
Silvio
S
Lang
Hauke
H
Benesch
Alexandra
A
Gu
Yanli
Y
Biglarnia
Ali-R
AR
Sotiropoulos
Georgios C
GC
Takeda
Atsushi
A
Takeda
Nobuakira
N
von Wnuck Lipinski
Karen
K
Levkau
Bodo
B
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D001706:Biopsy; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006498:Hepatectomy / Q000379:methods*; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008115:Liver Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D000077022:Survivin; D015854:Up-Regulation
C107489:BIRC5 protein, human; C516989:Birc5 protein, rat; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000077022:Survivin