ZBTB20 is involved in liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy in mouse.
BACKGROUND
A better understanding of the molecular mechanisms in liver regeneration holds promise for exploring the new potential therapy for liver failure. The present study was to investigate the role of zinc finger and BTB domain-containing protein 20 (ZBTB20), a potential factor associated with liver regeneration, in a model of 70% hepatectomy in mice.


METHODS
Parameters for liver proliferation such as liver/body ratio and BrdU positivity were obtained via direct measurement and immunohistochemistry. The levels of zinc fingers and homeoboxes 2 (ZHX2), ZBTB20, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and glypican 3 (GPC3) transcripts in the regenerating liver tissue of a 70% hepatectomy rodent model were monitored by real-time PCR analysis at different time points. Knockdown of ZBTB20 was performed to characterize its regulatory function.


RESULTS
A negatively regulating relationship between ZHX2, ZBTB20 and AFP, GPC3 was revealed from 24 to 72 hours after 70% hepatectomy. ZBTB20 appears to negatively regulate AFP and GPC3 transcription since the knockdown of ZBTB20 promoted the proliferation of hepatocytes and the expression of AFP and GPC3.


CONCLUSIONS
In addition to AFP, GPC3 and ZHX2, ZBTB20 is a new regulator in liver regeneration and the decrease of ZBTB20 expression following 70% hepatectomy promotes AFP and GPC3 expression.
Department of General Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China. tangzhaohui@yahoo.com.
Ming-Zhe
MZ
Weng
Peng-Yuan
PY
Zhuang
Zhen-Yu
ZY
Hei
Pei-Yi
PY
Lin
Zhi-Sheng
ZS
Chen
Ying-Bin
YB
Liu
Zhi-Wei
ZW
Quan
Zhao-Hui
ZH
Tang
D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D053673:Glypicans / Q000502:physiology; D006498:Hepatectomy / Q000379:methods*; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000473:pathology; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D008099:Liver / Q000502:physiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D008115:Liver Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D023421:Models, Animal; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000494:pharmacology; D013997:Time Factors; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D014162:Transfection; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000502:physiology
D053673:Glypicans; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D014157:Transcription Factors; C520426:Zbtb20 protein, mouse; C481543:Zhx2 protein, mouse; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins