Liver regeneration following partial hepatectomy is improved by enhancing the HGF/Met axis and Akt and Erk pathways afte
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ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Liver regeneration following partial hepatectomy is improved by enhancing the HGF/Met axis and Akt and Erk pathways after low-power laser irradiation in rats Tiago G. Araújo & Alexandre G. de Oliveira & Natália Tobar & Mario J. Abdalla Saad & Luciana R. Moreira & Edmyr R. Reis & Ester M. D. Nicola & Gracinda L. de Jorge & Rodolfo R. dos Tártaro & Ilka F. S. F. Boin & Antonio R. Franchi Teixeira
Received: 29 August 2012 / Accepted: 2 January 2013 / Published online: 20 January 2013 # Springer-Verlag London 2013
Abstract A simple, easy, and safe procedure aiming to improve liver regeneration could be of great clinical benefit in critical situations such as major hepatectomy, trauma, or hemorrhage. Low-power laser irradiation (LPLI) has come into a wide range of use in clinical practice by inducing regeneration in healthy and injured tissues. However, the effect of LPLI on the process of liver regeneration, especially those related to the molecular mechanisms, is not fully understood. Thus, the aim of the present study was to investigate the main molecular mechanisms involved in liver regeneration of partially hepatectomized rats exposed to LPLI. We used Wistar male rats, which had their remaining liver irradiated or not with LPLI (wavelength of 632.8 nm and fluence of 65 mW/cm2) for 15 min after a 70 % hepatectomy. We subsequently investigated hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), Met, Akt, and Erk 1/2 signaling
pathways through protein expression and phosphorylation analyses along with cell proliferation (proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and Ki-67) using immunoblotting and histological studies. Our results show that LPLI can improve liver regeneration as shown by increased HGF protein expression and the phosphorylation levels of Met, Akt, and Erk 1/2 accompanied by higher levels of the PCNA and Ki67 protein in the remnant livers. In summary, our results suggest that LPLI may play a clinical role as a simple, fast, and easy-to-perform strategy in order to enhance the liver regenerative capacity of a small liver remnant after hepatectomy.
T. G. Araújo : A. G. de Oliveira : N. Tobar : M. J. A. Saad Department of Internal Medicine, State University of Campinas, 13081-970, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
Introduction
L. R. Moreira Department of Pathology, State University of Campinas, 13081970, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil E. R. Reis : E. M. D. Nicola Laser Laboratory of the Medicine and Surgery Experimental Center, State University of Campinas, 13081-970, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil G. L. de Jorge : R. R. dos Tártaro : I. F. S. F. Boin : A. R. F. Teixeira (*) Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medical Sciences, State University of Campinas, Cidade Universitária Zeferino Vaz, 13081-970, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil e-mail: [email protected]
Keywords Hepatectomy . Laser . Liver regeneration . HGF . Met . Proliferation . Rats
The capacity for the liver to regenerate has been long recognized and is related to a sequence of molecular and cellular events that result in the induction of DNA synthesis, c
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