HEPATIC EXPRESSION OF HEPATOCYTE-GROWTH-FACTOR-LIKE MACROPHAGE-STIMULATING PROTEIN MESSENGER-RNA IN FULMINANT HEPATIC-FAILURE

We investigated whether impaired Kupffer cell phagocytosis in fulminan t hepatic failure could be due to reduced synthesis of patocyte-growth -factor-like/macrophage-stimulating protein (HGFL/MSP), a serum protei n synthesised predominantly in hepatocytes and required by tissue macr ophages for phagocytosis. Hepatic expression of the 3.0 kb HGFL/MSP mR NA, assessed by northern hybridisation, was lower in nine patients wit h fulminant hepatic failure undergoing liver transplantation than in t hree liver grafts as controls (median absorbance units 97 [range 15-12 00] versus 1114 [1100-1120], respectively; p < 0.05). Decreased hepati c HGFL/MSP production might cause impaired Kupffer cell phagocytosis i n fulminant hepatic failure.