Heparanase accelerates the proliferation of both hepatocytes and endothelial cells early after partial hepatectomy.
OBJECTIVE
Heparanase (HPSE) is an endo-β-D-glucuronidase, which cleaves heparan sulfate in the extracellular matrix (ECM) and has pro-angiogenic and pro-proliferative properties. The aim of this investigation was to study the effect of HPSE on hepatocytes and endothelial cells (EC) during liver regeneration.


METHODS
Following 70% hepatectomy (PHP), rats were injected daily with 1-50μg HPSE/rat. Liver samples were stained with H&E and anti-bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) antibody. mRNAs of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), stem cell factor, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin(IL)-6, and cyclinD1 were tested by real-time qPCR. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) were tested by gel zymography.


RESULTS
Compared to the saline control, HPSE increased hepatocyte proliferation 24h, 48h and 72h after PHP, with the maximal effect found at 24h with 50μg HPSE (40.9±2.5% vs. 8.6±4.3%, p<0.01 for BrdU staining; 5.5±0.9% vs. 0.8±0.5%, p<0.05 for mitosis). Proliferation of the sinusoidal and the portal vein radical ECs was also increased (p<0.05). HPSE caused a twofold increase in cyclinD1 mRNA (p<0.05) and in pro-MMP-9 levels (p<0.05). HPSE at all doses also caused significant reductions of TNF-α mRNA (p<0.05) and IL-6 mRNA, and no change in HGF mRNA.


CONCLUSIONS
HPSE enhances liver regeneration by inducing proliferation of hepatocytes and both sinusoidal and vascular ECs. Since the effect of HPSE on hepatocytes occurred earlier than that observed in ECs, this effect is not related to HPSE's effect on ECs. The mechanism of HPSE action is probably indirect and is mediated by HPSE-dependent ECM cleavage and the release of pre-existing enzymes.
Liver Unit, Rambam Health Care Campus and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.
Julie
J
Carmel
Arie
A
Arish
Gideon
G
Shoshany
Yaacov
Y
Baruch
D000818:Animals; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D019938:Cyclin D1 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D005966:Glucuronidase / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006498:Hepatectomy; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D008115:Liver Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000099175:Heparanase
D019938:Cyclin D1; D005966:Glucuronidase; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor; D015850:Interleukin-6; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000099175:Heparanase; C530106:Ccnd1 protein, rat