Transient von Willebrand factor-mediated platelet influx stimulates liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy in mice.

Background & Aims: In addition to their function in thrombosis and haemostasis, platelets play an important role in the stimulation of liver regeneration. It has been suggested that platelets deliver mitogenic cargo to the regenerating liver, and accumulation of platelets in the regenerating liver has been demonstrated. We studied kinetics of platelet influx in the regenerating liver and investigated the signal that initiates platelet influx.

Evidence against a role for platelet-derived molecules in liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy in humans.

Blood platelets have been shown to stimulate liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy in animal models and humans, but the molecular mechanisms involved are unclear. It has been proposed that growth factors and angiogenic molecules stored within platelets drive platelet-mediated liver regeneration, but little direct evidence in support of this mechanism is available. We assessed levels of relevant platelet-derived proteins (vascular endothelial growth factor, hepatocyte growth factor, fibroblast growth factor, platelet-derived growth factor, thrombospondin, and endostatin) in platelet-rich and platelet-poor plasma taken at various perioperative time points from patients undergoing a (extended) right partial hepatectomy ( = 17) or a pylorus-preserving pancreatico-duodenectomy ( = 10).

Vitamin E Attenuates the Progression of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Caused by Partial Hepatectomy in Mice.

Background And Aim: The progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) likely involves a 'multiple hit' mechanism. We hypothesized that partial hepatectomy, a procedure performed frequently in patients with NAFLD, would accelerate the progression of disease.

Methods: C57BL/6JolaHsd mice were fed a choline-deficient L-amino acid-defined diet (CD-AA) or a choline-sufficient L-amino acid-defined control diet (CS-AA).

Horizontal RNA transfer mediates platelet-induced hepatocyte proliferation.

Liver regeneration is stimulated by blood platelets, but the molecular mechanisms involved are largely unexplored. Although platelets are anucleate, they do contain coding or regulatory RNAs that can be functional within the platelet or, after transfer, in other cell types. Here, we show that platelets and platelet-like particles (PLPs) derived from the megakaryoblastic cell line MEG-01 stimulate proliferation of HepG2 cells.