Nuclear VEGFR-2 Expression of Hepatocytes Is Involved in Hepatocyte Proliferation and Liver Regeneration During Chronic Liver Injury

The pathological role of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR-2) in chronic liver injury and liver regeneration is not fully understood. This study analysed the role of VEGFR-2 in liver fibrosis and its regeneration process. We administered intraperitoneally 50 mg/kg to 300 mg/kg thi...

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Published in:In vivo (Athens) 2021-05, Vol.35 (3), p.1473-1483
Main Authors: Lee, A-Rang, Baek, Su-Min, Lee, Seoung-Woo, Kim, Tae-Un, Han, Jee Eun, Bae, Seulgi, Park, Sang-Joon, Kim, Tae-Hwan, Jeong, Kyu-Shik, Choi, Seong-Kyoon, Park, Jin-Kyu
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Cell Proliferation
Hepatocytes
Liver
Liver Regeneration
Male
Mice
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 - genetics
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Summary:The pathological role of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR-2) in chronic liver injury and liver regeneration is not fully understood. This study analysed the role of VEGFR-2 in liver fibrosis and its regeneration process. We administered intraperitoneally 50 mg/kg to 300 mg/kg thioacetamide (TAA) to 9-week-old male mice for 17 weeks. We measured levels of VEGFR-2 protein and identified the location of cells that specifically express VEGFR-2. VEGFR-2 is rarely expressed in normal hepatocytes. However, high VEGFR-2 expression in liver sinusoidal endothelial cells was noted in the TAA group. Conversely, the group that experienced regeneration from liver fibrosis showed significantly higher VEGFR-2 expression in the nucleus of hepatocytes compared to the other groups. VEGFR-2 plays a pivotal role in the nucleus of hepatocytes during liver regeneration and VEGFR-2 may be closely related to cell division. Therefore, VEGFR-2 may be a new therapeutic target for liver regeneration.
ISSN:0258-851X
1791-7549
DOI:10.21873/invivo.12400