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The Influence of Liver Resection on Intrahepatic Tumor Growth
Published on: April 9, 2016
Murine functional liver mass is reduced following partial small bowel resection
Zhaohua Qiu1, Shannon W Longshore, Brad W Warner
1Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO 63110, USA.
Summary
Proximal small bowel resection reduces liver mass in mice, indicated by decreased liver:body weight ratio and impaired liver function. Intestinal signals appear crucial for liver mass regulation and may influence liver injury post-resection.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Gastroenterology
- Surgical Research
Background:
- Liver mass is precisely regulated relative to body mass and regenerates after injury.
- Mechanisms of liver mass regulation are not fully understood.
- Intestinal signals are hypothesized to play a role in liver mass regulation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of proximal partial small bowel resection on liver mass.
- To elucidate the role of intestinal signals in liver mass regulation using a murine model.
Main Methods:
- Mice underwent 50% proximal small bowel resection or sham surgery.
- Liver:body mass ratio was determined at serial time points.
- Liver tissue was analyzed for functional mass markers and apoptosis-related proteins.
Main Results:
- Small bowel resection significantly decreased the liver:body weight ratio by 72 hours.
- Reduced functional liver mass was evidenced by lower hepatic protein and alanine transaminase (ALT) activity.
- Autophagy marker LC3-II and pro-apoptotic Bax expression increased, while anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 decreased in resected livers.
Conclusions:
- Intestinal signals are implicated in the regulation of liver mass.
- Findings suggest potential mechanisms for liver injury following small bowel resection.
