Basic Research
Copyright ©2006 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Oct 7, 2006; 12(37): 5995-6001
Published online Oct 7, 2006. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v12.i37.5995
Increased DNA binding activity of NF-kB, STAT-3, SMAD3 and AP-1 in acutely damaged liver
Adriana Salazar-Montes, Luis Ruiz-Corro, Ana Sandoval-Rodriguez, Alberto Lopez-Reyes, Juan Armendariz-Borunda
Adriana Salazar-Montes, Luis Ruiz-Corro, Ana Sandoval-Rodriguez, Alberto Lopez-Reyes, Juan Armendariz-Borunda, Institute of Molecular Biology in Medicine and Gene Therapy, CUCS, University of Guadalajara, Apdo. Postal 2-123, Guadalajara 44281, Jal, Mexico
Juan Armendariz-Borunda, OPD Hospital Civil de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jal, Mexico
Supported by CONACyT grant # 28827-M to Adriana Salazar-Montes and, in part, by COECyTJal grant # 08-2004 to Juan Armendariz-Borunda
Correspondence to: Dr. Adriana Salazar-Montes, Institute for Molecular Biology in Medicine and Gene Therapy, CUCS, University of Guadalajara, Apdo. Postal 2-123, Guadalajara 44281, Jal, Mexico. adriana.salazar@cucs.udg.mx
Telephone: +52-33-36174159 Fax: +52-33-36174159
Received: October 20, 2005
Revised: November 2, 2005
Accepted: November 18, 2005
Published online: October 7, 2006
Abstract

AIM: To investigate the role of genes and kinetics of specific transcription factors in liver regeneration, and to analyze the gene expression and the activity of some molecules crucially involved in hepatic regeneration.

METHODS: USING gel-shift assay and RT-PCR, transcription factors, such as NF-κB, STAT-3, SMAD3 and AP-1, and gene expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and c-met were analyzed in an animal model of chemically induced hepatectomy.

RESULTS: Gene expression of HGF and its receptor c-met peaked at 3 h and 24 h after acute CCl4 intoxi-cation. iNOS expression was only observed from 6 to 48 h. Transcriptional factor NF-κB had an early activation at 30 min after acute liver damage. STAT-3 peaked 3 h post-intoxication, while AP-1 displayed a peak of activation at 48 h. SMAD3 showed a high activity at all analyzed times.

CONCLUSION: TNF-α and IL-6 play a central role in hepatic regeneration. These two molecules are responsible for triggering the cascade of events and switch-on of genes involved in cell proliferation, such as growth factors, kinases and cyclins which are direct participants of cell proliferation.

Keywords: Hepatic regeneration; Transcription factor; Gene regulation