RECIPROCAL GENE-EXPRESSION OF RAT FIBROGLYCAN AND BETA-ACTIN DURING THE COURSE OF REGENERATION AFTER D-GALACTOSAMINE LIVER-INJURY

Background/Aims: Fibroglycan (FG) is a major heparan sulfate proteogly can. (HSPG) in. the rat Liver that is mainly distributed on. the surfa ce of hepatocytes. HSPG may play some important roles in the regenerat ion of liver by interacting with various growth factors such as bFGF a nd HB-EGF. However, little is known about the function. of FG. We repo rted that after injury caused by D-galactosamine, regeneration started on the following day and peaked on day 2. To clarify the function. of FG in Liver regeneration, we investigated the gene expression of FG d uring regeneration after D-galactosamine injury. Materials and Methods : Rats were given D-galactosamine on day 0. Liver RNA was collected fr om day 0 to day 7. The gene expression of FG and beta-actin (as a repr esentative cytoskeleton) was examined by Northern and/or Slot blotting . Results: FG gene expression was markedly decreased on. day 2, but to tally recovered on day 3. In contrast, beta-actin. gene expression was markedly increased on day 2 and returned to the normal level on. day 3. Expression, of the FG and beta-actin genes was reciprocal. Conclusi on: FG expression is transiently suppressed when cytoskeleton gene exp ression is enhanced at the early phase of liver regeneration.