title: Alrp, a survival factor that controls the apoptotic process of regenerating liver after partial hepatectomy in rats.
abstract: Augmenter of Liver Regeneration (Alrp) enhances, through unknown mechanism/s, hepatocyte proliferation only when administered to partially hepatectomized (PH) rats. Liver resection, besides stimulating hepatocyte proliferation, induces reactive oxygen species (ROS), triggering apoptosis. To clarify the role of Alrp in the process of liver regeneration, hepatocyte proliferation, apoptosis, ROS-induced parameters and morphological findings of regenerating liver were studied from PH rats Alrp-treated for 72 h after the surgery. The same parameters, evaluated on regenerating liver from albumin-treated PH rats, were used as control. The results demonstrated that Alrp administration induces the anti-apoptotic gene expression, inhibits hepatocyte apoptosis and reduces ROS-induced cell damage. These and similar data from in vitro studies and the presence of 'Alrp homologous proteins' in viruses as well as in mammals (i) allow to hypothesize that Alrp activity/ies may not be exclusive for regenerating liver and (ii) suggest the use of Alrp in the treatment of oxidative stress-related diseases.
authors.affiliation: Section of Gastroenterology, Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation (DETO), University of Bari, Bari, Italy. l.polimeno@gastro.uniba.it
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Polimeno
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pesetti
authors.forename: Emanuele
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Annoscia
authors.forename: Floriana
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Giorgio
authors.forename: Ruggiero
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Francavilla
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lisowsky
authors.forename: Antonietta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gentile
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: Antongiulio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bucci
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Francavilla
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D051152:Clusterin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D006498:Hepatectomy; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008115:Liver Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D050862:Oxidoreductases Acting on Sulfur Group Donors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D051152:Clusterin; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D050862:Oxidoreductases Acting on Sulfur Group Donors; C551231:GFER protein, mouse