Interleukin-6 is required for cell cycle arrest and activation of DNA repair enzymes after partial hepatectomy in mice

Shingo Tachibana,Xiuying Zhang,Zhaoli Sun,Yoshihiro Ota,Andrew M Cameron,George Melville Williams,Kazushige Ito

doi:10.1186/2045-3701-4-6

Shingo Tachibana, Xiuying Zhang + Show 5 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/2045-3701-4-6

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Abstract

BackgroundInterleukin-6 (IL-6) has been shown to be vital for liver regeneration, however the specific mechanisms and factors involved remain incompletely defined. The present study aimed to investigate whether IL-6 exerts its protective effects via arresting the cell cycle allowing base excision and repair of oxidized DNA after hepatectomy.ResultsFollowing seventy percent partial hepatectomy (PH) in wild type (WT) mice IL-6 serum levels increased reaching peak levels at 3 hours. This was associated with markers of cell cycle arrest as p21 expression was increased and cyclin D1 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression decreased. In the absence of IL-6, markers of cell cycle arrest were absent and the number of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) positive cells was significantly higher at 28, 32 and 36 hours after PH. The mRNAs for DNA repair enzymes, including Neil-1, 8-oxodGTPase, OGG1, Apex1, and UDG (DNA glycosylase) were increased 2 to 4 fold in WT mice at 6 and/or 12 hours after PH compared to IL-6 knockout (KO) mice. The protein levels of Neil1 and OGG1 were also significantly increased in WT mice compared to KO mice. Pathological changes were far greater and survival was less in IL-6 KO mice than in WT mice. Administration of IL-6 in KO mice restored p21 and DNA repair enzyme expression to wild-type levels and survival was improved.ConclusionsIL-6 caused cell cycle arrest and delayed proliferation during the first day after PH. This delay was associated with the activation of DNA repair enzymes resulting in accurate replication and restoration of hepatic mass.

Highlights

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) has been shown to be vital for liver regeneration, the specific mechanisms and factors involved remain incompletely defined
IL-6 stimulation was associated with increases in phosphorylated-Stat3 (p-Stat3) in the liver of wild type (WT) mice compared to IL-6 KO mice (Figure 1B)
IL-6 Regulates cell cycle at early time after partial hepatectomy Using western blot analysis, we found that cyclin-D1 expression was increased as early as 3 hours and remained at the higher levels in the IL-6 KO mice after 70% PH (Figure 3)

Summary

Introduction

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) has been shown to be vital for liver regeneration, the specific mechanisms and factors involved remain incompletely defined. Liver regeneration in response to partial resection is an efficient and precisely regulated process during which the surviving liver cells proliferate to reconstitute the liver. The two third partial hepatectomy (~70% PH) induces a compensatory hyperplasia of the remaining lobes that restores the original liver mass within 7 to 10 days [1]. Resection of half of the human liver is followed within 2–4 weeks by full restoration of the liver structure, size, and function [2,3]. While IL-6 has been shown to be vital for liver regeneration [6,13,14], the specific mechanisms and factors involved remain incompletely defined. Identifying the molecular signals that promote regeneration may well lead to therapies that would aid recovery from massive liver injury or surgery

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