ABSTRACT
We used a previously described animal model of fulminant hepatic failure [FHF] to study the effect of hepatocyte transplantation [HcTx] on the cytokine profile. Three groups of Sprague Dawley rats were used. Group I [n=30] received intrasplenic HcTx. Group II [n=12] received intrasplenic injection of saline. Two days later, both groups underwent surgically induced FHF. Group III [n=30] underwent sham operation. Six animals of each group were euthanized preoperatively and on postoperative days 1, 7, 14 and 28 to study plasma cytokines; hepatocyte growth factor [HGF] and transforming growth factor beta one [TGF-beta 1]. Preoperatively, and after hepatocyte transplantation, Group I had a higher level of hepatocyte growth factor [HGF] than Groups II and III. On postoperative day 1, Group I had low levels of HGF and TGF-beta 1 and Group lI had the highest levels among the three groups. No animals in Group II survived beyond day 3 postoperatively. On day 14, HGF showed a rise in Group I as compared with Group III. HcTx has modified the level of cytokines in favor of liver regeneration in FHF rats