Interleukin-6 augments activation of liver regeneration in porcine model of partial portal vein ligation.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Portal vein ligation (PVL) could multiply the future liver remnant volume (FLRV). Interuleukin-6 (IL-6) is a pleiotropic cytokine that is associated with an initial phase of liver regeneration. The aim of this study was to accelerate the regeneration of liver parenchyma after PVL by intraportal cytokine application. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After ligation of portal branches of caudate and right lateral and right medial liver lobes, recombinant porcine IL-6 (IL-6 group) or physiological solution (control group) were applied into non-occluded portal vein branches. The biochemical and immunoanalytical parameters were assessed. The compensatory hypertrophy was evaluated by periodic ultrasonography. The histological examination of liver was performed. RESULTS: The acceleration of growth of hypertrophic liver lobes was maximal at the 7th postoperative day in comparison with the control group (p<0.05), nevertheless, this stimulating effect was lost at the end of the experiment. Important differences in biochemical or histological studied parametres were not proved. CONCLUSION: The presented study describes the use of IL-6 for stimulation of the first phase of liver regeneration. The achieved acceleration of growth of hypertrophic liver lobes after application of IL-6 confirmed the key role of the studied cytokine in priming regenerating liver parenchyma after portal vein ligation.