RESUMO
Regeneration is the unmatched liver ability for recovering its functional mass after tissue lost. Leukotrienes (LT) are a family of eicosanoids with the capacity of signaling to promote proliferation. We analyzed the impact of blocking LT synthesis during liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy (PH). Male Wistar rats were subjected to two-third PH and treated with zileuton, a specific inhibitor of 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX). Our first find was a significant increment of intrahepatic LTB4 during the first hour after PH together with an increase in 5-LOX expression. Zileuton reduced hepatic LTB4 levels at the moment of hepatectomy and also inhibited the increase in hepatic LTB4. This inhibition produced a delay in liver proliferation as seen by decreased PCNA and cyclin D1 nuclear expression 24 h post-PH. Results also showed that hepatic LTB4 diminution by zileuton was associated with a decrease in NF-ĸB activity. Additionally, decreased hepatic LTB4 levels by zileuton affected the recruitment of neutrophils and macrophages. Non-parenchymal cells (NPCs) from zileuton-treated PH-rats displayed higher apoptosis than NPCs from PH control rats. In conclusion, the present work provides evidences that 5-LOX activation and its product LTB4 are involved in the initial signaling events for liver regeneration after PH and the pharmacological inhibition of this enzyme can delay the initial time course of the phenomenon.
Assuntos
Araquidonato 5-Lipoxigenase/metabolismo , Leucotrieno B4/metabolismo , Regeneração Hepática/fisiologia , Fígado/metabolismo , Animais , Apoptose/efeitos dos fármacos , Apoptose/fisiologia , Proliferação de Células/efeitos dos fármacos , Proliferação de Células/fisiologia , Ciclina D1/metabolismo , Eicosanoides/metabolismo , Hepatectomia/métodos , Concentração de Íons de Hidrogênio , Hidroxiureia/análogos & derivados , Hidroxiureia/farmacologia , Leucotrienos/metabolismo , Fígado/efeitos dos fármacos , Regeneração Hepática/efeitos dos fármacos , Macrófagos/efeitos dos fármacos , Macrófagos/metabolismo , Masculino , NF-kappa B/metabolismo , Neutrófilos/efeitos dos fármacos , Neutrófilos/metabolismo , Ratos , Ratos Wistar , Transdução de Sinais/efeitos dos fármacos , Transdução de Sinais/fisiologiaRESUMO
SCOPE: Quercetin is the most abundant flavonoid in human diet. It has special interest as it holds anticancerous properties. This study aims to clarify the mechanisms involved in quercetin effects during the occurrence of preneoplastic lesions in rat liver. METHODS AND RESULTS: Adult male Wistar rats were subjected to a two-phase model of hepatocarcinogenesis (initiated-promoted group). Initiated-promoted animals also received quercetin 10 and 20 mg/kg body weight (IPQ10 and IPQ20 groups, respectively). Antioxidant defenses were modified by quercetin administration at both doses. However, only IPQ20 group showed a reduction in number and volume of preneoplastic lesions. This group showed increased apoptosis and a reduction in the proliferative index. In addition, IPQ20 group displayed a reduction of cell percentages in G1 and S phases, accumulation in G2, and decrease in M phase, with reduced expression of cyclin D1, cyclin A, cyclin B, and cyclin-dependent kinase 1. Interestingly, peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-α levels were reduced in IPQ20 group. CONCLUSION: The outcomes of this study represent a significant contribution to the current understanding on the preventive mechanisms of quercetin during the early stages of liver cancer development, demonstrating that in addition to its known proapoptotic characteristics, the flavonoid modulates the expression of critical cell cycle regulators and peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-α activity.
Assuntos
Apoptose/efeitos dos fármacos , Carcinogênese/efeitos dos fármacos , Pontos de Checagem do Ciclo Celular/efeitos dos fármacos , Proliferação de Células/efeitos dos fármacos , Neoplasias Hepáticas/prevenção & controle , Quercetina/farmacologia , Animais , Proteína Quinase CDC2/metabolismo , Divisão Celular/efeitos dos fármacos , Ciclina D1/metabolismo , Peroxidação de Lipídeos/efeitos dos fármacos , Fígado/efeitos dos fármacos , Fígado/metabolismo , Masculino , PPAR alfa/metabolismo , Ratos , Ratos WistarRESUMO
We analysed the possible cellular mechanism involved in the NO action in the balance between apoptosis and cell proliferation in liver regeneration process. We determined p53, proapoptotic protein Bax, antiapoptotic Bcl-xL, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and apoptotic index at the early stages of regenerative process after NO increase by lipopolysaccharide-induction (LPS) of inducible-type nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and by direct NO donor (sodium nitroprusside, SNP). Male Wistar rats were randomised in four experimental groups: sham operated control (Sh), partial hepatectomised control (PH-C), partial hepatectomised pretreated with LPS (2 mg/kg body weight, i.p.) (PH-LPS), and partial hepatectomised pretreated with SNP (2.5 mg/kg body weight, i.v. at a rate of 1 ml/h) (PH-SNP). Animals were killed 5 h post-surgery. Hepatic cytosolic iNOS showed an increase of 34% in PH-C animals with respect to Sh, and LPS-treatment increased iNOS protein levels 30% compared with PH-C. Bax and p53 protein levels showed significant increases in LPS- and SNP-treated hepatectomised rats with respect to PH-C. The apoptotic indexes were increased 75% in both, PH-LPS and PH-SNP rats versus PH-C. The increase of NO did not show any change in the proliferation process. These results suggest that NO is involved in apoptosis via p53 and Bax proteins after PH, showing a tightly regulated growth process in liver regeneration.