Basic Research
Copyright ©2005 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Dec 14, 2005; 11(46): 7254-7260
Published online Dec 14, 2005. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v11.i46.7254
Vascular endothelial growth factor and angiopoietins regulate sinusoidal regeneration and remodeling after partial hepatectomy in rats
Hiroaki Shimizu, Noboru Mitsuhashi, Masayuki Ohtsuka, Hiroshi Ito, Fumio Kimura, Satoshi Ambiru, Akira Togawa, Hiroyuki Yoshidome, Atsushi Kato, Masaru Miyazaki
Hiroaki Shimizu, Noboru Mitsuhashi, Masayuki Ohtsuka, Hiroshi Ito, Fumio Kimura, Satoshi Ambiru, Akira Togawa, Hiroyuki Yoshidome, Atsushi Kato, Masaru Miyazaki, Department of General Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba 260-0856, Japan
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Hiroaki Shimizu, Department of General Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-0856, Japan. h-shimizu@umin.ac.jp
Telephone: +81-43-2262103 Fax: +81-43-226-269
Received: March 11, 2005
Revised: June 2, 2005
Accepted: June 9, 2005
Published online: December 14, 2005
Abstract

AIM: To study the regulatory mechanisms of sinusoidal regeneration after partial hepatectomy.

METHODS: We investigated the expression of angiopoietin (Ang)-1, Ang-2, Tie-2, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in regenerating liver tissue by quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using a LightCycler (Roche Diagnostics) and also immunohistochemical staining after 70% hepatectomy in rats. In the next step, we isolated liver cells (hepatocytes, sinusoidal endothelial cell (SEC), Kupffer cell, and hepatic stellate cells (HSC)) from regenerating liver tissue by in situ collagenase perfusion and counterflow elutriation, to determine potential cellular sources of these angiogenic factors after hepatectomy. Proliferation and apoptosis of SECs were also evaluated by proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) staining and the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase d-uridine triphosphate nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay, respectively.

RESULTS: VEGF mRNA expression increased with a peak at 72 h after hepatectomy, decreasing thereafter. The expression of Ang-1 mRNA was present at detectable levels before hepatectomy and increased slowly with a peak at 96 h. Meanwhile, Ang-2 mRNA was hardly detected before hepatectomy, but was remarkably induced at 120 and 144 h. In isolated cells, VEGF mRNA expression was found mainly in the hepatocyte fraction. Meanwhile, mRNA for Ang-1 and Ang-2 was found in the SEC and HSC fractions, but was more prominent in the latter. The PCNA labeling index of SECs increased slowly, reaching a peak at 72 h, whereas apoptotic SECs were detected between 120 h and 144 h.

CONCLUSION: Ang-Tie system, together with VEGF, plays a critical role in regulating balance between SEC proliferation and apoptosis during sinusoidal regeneration after hepatectomy. However, the VEGF system plays a more important role in the early phase of sinusoidal regeneration than angiopoietin/Tie system.

Keywords: Vascular endothelial cell growth factor; Angiopoietin; Sinusoidal endothelial cell; Hepatectomy; Liver regeneration