Published online Feb 7, 2023. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v29.i5.867
Peer-review started: October 29, 2022
First decision: November 30, 2022
Revised: December 7, 2022
Accepted: January 11, 2023
Article in press: January 11, 2023
Published online: February 7, 2023
Processing time: 94 Days and 5.4 Hours
Associating liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy (ALPPS) has already been clinically applied in various countries. Although it has been reported that ALPPS offers faster and larger liver regeneration compared to portal vein embolization (PVE), the mechanism of this phenomenon is still unclear.
The aim of this study was to investigate the underlying mechanism of rapid liver regeneration after ALPPS focusing on inflammatory cytokines and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) activation.
Activation of eNOS was considered one of key points on mechanism of rapid liver regeneration after ALPPS.
Liver regeneration was compared between the rat portal vein ligation (PVL) model and the rat ALPPS model. In addition, impact of administration of gadolinium chloride (GdCl3, Kupffer cell inhibitor), NG-nitro-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, NOS inhibitor), and molsidomine (NO enhancer) on liver regeneration after PVL and/or ALPPS.
Administration of GdCl3 before ALPPS provided no significant negative influence of liver regeneration after ALPPS. Administration of L-NAME before ALPPS suppressed liver regeneration after ALPPS, while administration of molsidomine before PVL accerelated liver regeneration after PVL as well as ALPPS.
ALPPS is an alternative to PVE for reducing posthepatectomy liver failure after major hepatectomy.
Combination of NO-producing agents and less invasive procedure can be an alternative to ALPPS procedure in the future.