[Cytoprotective effect of epidermal growth factor on acetaminophen induced acute injury of hepatocytes]

In the present work, the hepatoprotection of EGF was studied on an acetaminophen induced acute injury model of serum-free primary cultured mouse hepatocytes. The results were as follows: (1) When serum-free cultured mouse hepatocytes were exposed to acetaminophen (AAP 20 mmol/L) for 12-14 h, the activity of GPT and GOT were increased to a stable level, serving as a good hepatocyte injury model. (2) EGF of different doses (50, 100, 500, and 1000 ng/ml) added to the medium prior to acetaminophen could reduce hepatocyte injury in a dose-dependent manner. (3) Taking 3H-TdR incorporation as an index, it was observed that acetaminophen could reduce the DNA synthesis of hepatocytes, and pretreatment with EGF could reverse this effect, but, stimulation of DNA synthesis by EGF was not correlated with its hepatoprotection. Thus the reversion of the reduced DNA synthesis in EGF-pretreated hepatocytes is interpreted as the result rather than the cause of cytoprotection of the factor. (4) The hepatoprotection might be produced through affecting on the glutathione metabolism of hepatocytes.