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The amazing regenerative powers of the liver
Author(s) -
Perkins James D.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
liver transplantation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.814
H-Index - 150
eISSN - 1527-6473
pISSN - 1527-6465
DOI - 10.1002/lt.20900
Subject(s) - serotonin , liver regeneration , platelet , regeneration (biology) , agonist , endocrinology , medicine , receptor , endogenous agonist , hepatectomy , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , surgery , resection , dopamine receptor d1
The liver can regenerate its volume after major tissue loss. In a mouse model of liver regeneration, thrombocytopenia, or impaired platelet activity resulted in the failure to initiate cellular proliferation in the liver. Platelets are major carriers of serotonin in the blood. In thrombocytopenic mice, a serotonin agonist reconstituted liver proliferation. The expression of 5‐HT2A and 2B subtype serotonin receptors in the liver increased after hepatectomy. Antagonists of 5‐HT2A and 2B receptors inhibited liver regeneration. Liver regeneration was also blunted in mice lacking tryptophan hydroxylase 1, which is the rate‐limiting enzyme for the synthesis of peripheral serotonin. This failure of regeneration was rescued by reloading serotonin‐free platelets with a serotonin precursor molecule. These results suggest that platelet‐derived serotonin is involved in the initiation of liver regeneration. (Science 2006;312:104‐107.)