Original scientific paper

Activation of Zinc-Dependent Hepato-Thymic Axis During Liver Regeneration in Hepatectomized Mice

Čedomila Milin ; Department of Physiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, HR-51 000 Rijeka, B. Branchetta 22, Croatia
Biserka Radošević-Stašić ; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, HR-51 000 Rijeka, B. Branchetta 22, Croatia
Donatella Verbanac ; Department of Physiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, HR-51 000 Rijeka, B. Branchetta 22, Croatia
Robert Domitrović ; Department of Physiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, HR-51 000 Rijeka, B. Branchetta 22, Croatia
Marija Petković ; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, HR-51 000 Rijeka, B. Branchetta 22, Croatia
Zlatko Trobonjača ; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, HR-51 000 Rijeka, B. Branchetta 22, Croatia
Jagoda Ravlić-Gulan ; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, HR-51 000 Rijeka, B. Branchetta 22, Croatia
Mira Ćuk ; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, HR-51 000 Rijeka, B. Branchetta 22, Croatia
Jadranka Varljen ; Department of Physiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, HR-51 000 Rijeka, B. Branchetta 22, Croatia
Daniel Rukavina ; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, HR-51 000 Rijeka, B. Branchetta 22, Croatia

Abstract

Zinc is an essential trace element for many biological functions including the processes of normal growth and functioning of the lymphatic system. In this study, we estimated the role of the thymus in liver regeneration following a 1/3 partial hepatectomy (pHx) as well as the role of zinc ions in these processes.
The data have shown that fast liver growth is followed by marked hypoplasia of the thymus and a difference in the proportion of the T-cell phenotype (increase of double negative CD4_CD8_ and single positive CD4+ and CDB+ cells, and decrease of double positive CD4+CD8+ cells). Simultaneously, a significant increase of tissue zind concentration was found both in liver and in thymus. The most pronounced increase was recorded 24 hours (liver) and 48 hours (thymus) after pHx.
These results pointed to the possibility that the accumulation of zinc in both organs might be linked to the activity of growth factors which are activated by pHx. Furthermore, it is possible that activation of zinc-dependent thymic hormones or interleukins facilitates the zinc formation of T-lymophocytes with morphogenetic functions participating in the control of liver regeneration.

Keywords

Hrčak ID:

136715

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/136715

Publication date:

1.9.1995.

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