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Hepatocyte growth factor in ascites from patients with cirrhosis
I Shimizu1, A Ichihara, T Nakamura
1Second Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Tokushima, Japan.
Insights
Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) was found in patients with liver cirrhosis, suggesting it aids in liver repair. This growth factor stimulates DNA synthesis in liver cells.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) plays a role in liver regeneration.
- The presence and role of HGF in liver cirrhosis are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence and properties of HGF in patients with liver cirrhosis.
- To determine if HGF contributes to liver repair mechanisms in chronic liver disease.
Main Methods:
- HGF was purified from ascites of cirrhotic patients using ultrafiltration and chromatography techniques.
- HGF's effect on hepatocyte DNA synthesis was assessed in primary cell cultures.
- Biochemical properties including heat lability, acid lability, and molecular weight were determined.
Main Results:
- HGF was detected in the ascites and plasma of patients with liver cirrhosis, but not in controls.
- Purified HGF exhibited properties similar to rat platelet-derived HGF, including heat and acid lability.
- HGF demonstrated dose-dependent stimulation of hepatocyte DNA synthesis, with additive effects with insulin and EGF.
Conclusions:
- HGF is present in cirrhotic ascites and plasma, likely secreted from the liver or plasma.
- Elevated HGF in cirrhosis may indicate a role in the repair of damaged liver tissue.
- HGF could be a significant factor in managing chronic liver disease and hepatic impairment.
Abstract:
Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) stimulating DNA synthesis of adult rat hepatocytes in primary culture was found in the ascites and plasma from patients with liver cirrhosis, but not in those from patients without cirrhosis. HGF was purified about 400-fold in 10% yield from cirrhotic ascites by ultrafiltration, cation-exchange chromatography on a S-Sepharose column, and affinity chromatography on a heparin-Sepharose CL-6B column. The partially purified factor was a heat- and acid-labile cationic protein with a molecular weight of 100,000-150,000. Its effect was half-maximal at 3.8 micrograms/ml, and was additive with those of insulin and epidermal growth factor. HGF in ascites from patients with cirrhosis had the same properties as HGF purified and characterized from rat platelets. These findings suggest that HGF is secreted into the ascites from the plasma or liver of patients with cirrhosis and may increase in the plasma with the development of hepatic impairment and act in repair of the damaged liver of patients with chronic liver disease.