title: Hepatic regenerative response in small-sized liver isografts in the rat.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To investigate hepatic regenerative response and associated mechanisms in different-size liver grafts in the rat.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rat models of different-size-graft liver transplantation (whole, 50%-size, or 30%-size) were established, with a sham operation group serving as a control. Portal pressure, graft injury, interleukin 6 (IL-6), signal transducer and activator of transcription (Stat3), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), cyclin D1, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) were all assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The portal pressure was significantly higher and hepatic injury more severe in the smaller sized groups than in the whole graft group, especially in the 30%-size grafts. Hepatic IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) levels in the two smaller sized groups were significantly higher than in the whole graft group, while IL-6 levels appeared to be negatively associated with graft sizes. Downstream markers of IL-6, Stat3 and MAPK phosphorylation, cyclin D1, and PCNA expression were also markedly increased in the small-sized grafts compared with the whole grafts, and appeared to positively correlate with early measurements of portal pressure and subsequent hepatic injury.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vigorous hepatic regeneration in small-for-size liver grafts may be associated with highly activated IL-6/Stat3 and MAPK signaling, which may in turn correlate with graft size, portal pressure, and hepatic injury.
authors: Liver Transplantation Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
authors: Ai Hua
authors: AH
authors: Yao
authors: Yan
authors: Y
authors: Yang
authors: Xiang Cheng
authors: XC
authors: Li
authors: Li Yong
authors: LY
authors: Pu
authors: Ji Wei
authors: JW
authors: Zhong
authors: Xian Zhong
authors: XZ
authors: Liu
authors: Yue
authors: Y
authors: Yu
authors: Feng
authors: F
authors: Zhang
authors: Lian Bao
authors: LB
authors: Kong
authors: Xue Hao
authors: XH
authors: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002453:Cell Cycle; D002455:Cell Division; D019938:Cyclin D1 / Q000032:analysis; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006975:Hypertension, Portal / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000032:analysis; D008099:Liver / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000201:enzymology; D008115:Liver Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases / Q000032:analysis; D017082:Portal Pressure; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000502:physiology; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000503:physiopathology; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor; C494088:Stat3 protein, rat; D019938:Cyclin D1; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases