Splenectomy reduces fibrosis and preneoplastic lesions with increased triglycerides and essential fatty acids in rat liver cirrhosis induced by a choline-deficient L-amino acid-defined diet.

Abstract

AIM:

  This study investigated whether splenectomy is of significance in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).

METHODS:

  Five-week-old Wistar rats were fed a choline-deficient diet for 8 weeks to create a NASH model. A sham-operation or splenectomy was then performed, and rats were killed 4 weeks later.

RESULTS:

  Liver fibrosis and liver preneoplastic lesions were significantly reduced in the splenectomy group compared to the sham-operation group, and α-smooth muscle actin (SMA) expression was significantly inhibited (liver fibrosis area: sham 8.63 ± 4.09%, splenectomy 5.45 ± 3.69%, P < 0.01; preneoplastic lesion size: sham 6.56 ± 3.68 ×10(6)  µm(2) /cm(2) , splenectomy 4.63 ± 3.27 ×10(6)  µm(2) /cm(2) , P < 0.05; the number of preneoplastic lesions: sham 8.33 ± 3.96/cm(2) , splenectomy 5.17 ± 1.80/cm(2) , P < 0.01; α-smooth muscle actin-positive area: sham 4.41 ± 2.48%, splenectomy 2.75 ± 1.66%, P < 0.01) On the other hand, liver triglycerides and essential fatty acids were significantly increased in the splenectomy group (liver triglycerides: sham 182 ± 35.0 mg/g, splenectomy 230 ± 35.0 mg/g, P < 0.05; liver linoleic acid: sham 17.2 ± 4.9 mg/g, splenectomy 23.3 ± 6.9 mg/g, P < 0.05; liver α-linolenic acid: sham 118 ± 36.6 µg/g, splenectomy 162 ± 51.4 µg/g, P < 0.05). In addition, expressions of hepatic fatty acid metabolism-related genes (e.g. acyl-CoA oxidase, liver carnitine palmitoyl-CoA transferase I, cytochrome P450 4A, long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase and medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase) were significantly inhibited in the splenectomy group.

CONCLUSION:

  These findings suggest that spleen plays an important regulatory role in the fibrosis, preneoplastic lesion and lipid metabolism of liver in a rat choline-deficient L-amino acid model.

• Authors: Toshiyuki Oishi, Shuji Terai, Takuya Iwamoto, Taro Takami, Naoki Yamamoto, Isao Sakaida
• Journal: Hepatology research : the official journal of the Japan Society of Hepatology (Hepatol Res) Vol. 41 Issue 5 Pg. 463-74 (May 2011) ISSN: 1872-034X [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 21435125 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2011 The Japan Society of Hepatology.