Background
Liver failure after hepatic resection is still a critical issue in the treatment of
hepatic tumors in patients with liver cirrhosis. In the current study, the effect
of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) gene transfer, which is a multipotent growth factor,
was examined in rats with liver cirrhosis that underwent 2/3 partial hepatectomy (PH).
Methods
Rats were treated with 1 mL of 1% dimethylnitrosoamine (DMN) 3 consecutive days per
week for 4 weeks and then received a 2/3 PH. Three days before the PH, human HGF gene
plasmid (20 μg) encapsulated in hemagglutinating virus of Japan (HVJ)-liposome was
administered through a direct injection in the portal vein. Control cirrhotic rats
received empty HVJ-liposome in the same manner.
Results
HGF gene transfer significantly improved survival after PH in the cirrhotic rats,
and it stimulated BrdU uptake in hepatocytes. Although the HGF gene transfer did not
change the liver regeneration rate after PH, it suppressed hepatocyte apoptosis and
upregulated an antiapoptotic protein, Bcl-xl, but it did not affect the expression
of Bax, which is a proapoptotic protein.
Conclusion
HGF gene transfer to cirrhotic livers improves liver failure-associated death after
PH upregulating expression of an antiapoptotic protein, Bcl-xl.
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: July 11, 2008
Accepted:
April 9,
2008
Footnotes
Supported in part by a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS).
Identification
Copyright
© 2008 Mosby, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
