Expression of epidermal growth factor receptor protein in the liver of db/db mice after partial hepatectomy

Exp Toxicol Pathol. 2007 Nov;59(3-4):157-62. doi: 10.1016/j.etp.2007.06.003. Epub 2007 Sep 7.

Abstract

Liver regeneration was impaired after partial hepatectomy (PH) in leptin receptor-deficient db/db mice with severe liver steatosis. In the present study, we analyzed the mode of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) protein expression in the liver of 5- and 10-week-old db/db and age-matched control mice. In 5-week-old db/db mice, neither the expression of EGFR protein in the intact liver nor the rate of liver regeneration after PH was significantly different from that in age-matched control mice. However, in 10-week-old db/db mice, the level of EGFR protein expression was very low and liver regeneration was prominently suppressed. Histopathologically, much severer fatty change was observed in the liver of 10-week-old db/db mice than 5-week-old db/db mice. These results suggest that the down-regulation of EGFR protein expression is associated with an impairment of liver regeneration in db/db mice and that the severity of hepatic steatosis plays an indirect role in the impairment of liver regeneration by modifying EGFR expression.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Down-Regulation
  • ErbB Receptors
  • Fatty Liver / metabolism
  • Fatty Liver / pathology
  • Female
  • Hepatectomy*
  • Liver / metabolism*
  • Liver / pathology
  • Liver Regeneration / physiology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Receptors, Leptin / deficiency*
  • Receptors, Leptin / genetics

Substances

  • Receptors, Leptin
  • ErbB Receptors