Hepassocin:一种作用特异的促肝细胞增殖因子

Hepassocin: A liver-specific hepatocyte proliferation factor

肝细胞增殖的调控机制复杂,众多的细胞因子参与其中,然而,大多数的细胞因子都不具备作用的特异性,它们除了对肝细胞发挥活性作用外,还具有调控其它组织细胞的活性。Hepassocin是一种分子量为34ku的多肽,在肝切除或肝损伤后表达升高,以同源二聚体的形式在肝再生过程中发挥重要功能。与HGF、EGF等其它肝增殖相关因子不同的是:Hepassocin是一种特异性的促肝细胞增殖因子。Hepassocin的特异性主要表现在以下3方面:特异性表达于肝脏实质细胞;特异性的作用于正常肝细胞;只对肝细胞有促增殖活性,对其它组织细胞无促增殖活性,同时具有一定的种属特异性。

The mechanisms underlying the hepatocyte proliferation after liver injury are involved, and a number of growth factors and cytokines have been implicated in the regulation of these processes. However, most of them are not liver-specific and they also regualte the activity of other tissue cells. Hepassocin is a 34 ku protein, and the experssion of mRNA expression is upregulated after liver resection or liver injury. It plays important roles, in the form of homodimer, in the liver regeneration. Unlike HGF, EGF and other factors concerning liver-proliferation, hepassocin is a liver-specific hepatocyte proliferation promoting factor. The hepassocin specificity is characterized by its specific expression on liver parenchymal cells, specific action on normal liver cells and exlusive proliferation-promoting effect on liver cells, without such promoting effect on other tissue cells. Its action is also, to some extent, species-specific.