Effect of a parenteral nucleoside-nucleotide mixture on hepatic metabolism in partially hepatectomized cirrhotic rats.

After hepatectomy, purine and pyrimidine metabolism is a key process in synthesis of DNA and RNA and in energy metabolism. To supply nucleosides for salvage synthesis, nucleoside-nucleotide mixture solutions have been developed, and they have been found to improve protein metabolism and hepatic regeneration after partial hepatectomy in normal rats. However, the effect of the solution in cirrhotic liver, common in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, has not been reported. The aim of this study was to evaluate the metabolic effect of the nucleoside-nucleotide mixture on cirrhotic rats after partial hepatectomy. Seventy percent partial hepatectomy was performed in thioacetamide-administered cirrhotic rats. The fractional protein synthetic rate, nitrogen balance, hepatic content of nucleic acid, and blood chemistry after the administration of the nucleoside-nucleotide mixture solution (OG-VI) with total parenteral nutrition was evaluated at 7 d after partial hepatectomy. OG-VI increased hepatic RNA level and hepatic fractional protein synthetic rate (p < 0.05). It is concluded that the nucleoside-nucleotide mixture solution is an effective nutritional supplement to the metabolism of cirrhotic rats after partial hepatectomy.

The relationship of IL-6 to hormonal mediators, fuel utilization, and systemic hypermetabolism after surgical trauma.

OBJECTIVES: To define the relationship between inflammatory cytokines, hormonal mediators, alteration of energy substrate and hypermetabolism during the early phase after surgical trauma. DESIGN: A prospective case-control study of 13 patients underwent elective surgery for carcinoma between November 1993 and January 1995. MATERIALS AND METHODS: They received parenteral supply of adequate glucose and amino acids through central venous catheter after surgery equally. Inflammatory cytokines such as TNF- alpha, IL-1 and IL-6, stress hormones such as norepinephrine, glucagon and insulin, and fuel utilization and hypermetabolism variables such as resting energy expenditure (REE), CRP, free fatty acid, respiratory quotient, the calculated rates of glucose and fat oxidation using indirect calorimetry were measured serially (the day before operation, the end of surgery, and postoperative day (POD) 1, 2 and 5). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: TNF- alpha and IL-1 were not detected during the study period. Initial elevation and steady decline of IL-6 concentrations were seen after surgical injury, and this response related significantly to post-operative norepinephrine and glucagon levels throughout the study period, and to insulin levels only at the end of surgery. %REE (REE/BEEHB; basal energy expenditure according to the Harris-Benedict equation) on POD 2 and 5, and all CRP levels after surgery were significantly related to IL-6 levels more than hormone levels. Fuel utilization variables on POD 2 were related to both IL-6 and hormone levels. CONCLUSIONS: Initial elevation of IL-6 concentration might induce stress hormones such as norepinephrine and glucagon, but not insulin after surgical trauma. Moreover not only hormonal mediators but also cytokine such as IL-6 are responsible for the development of the stress response of the alteration of energy substrate and hypermetabolism.

Effect of nucleosides and a nucleotide mixture on proliferation of human gastric cancer cells (KATO III).

The effect of the nucleotides and a nucleotide mixture (OG-VI), consisting of inosine, guanosine 5'-monophosphate (5'-GMP), cytidine, uridine, thymidine (TdR) (4:4:4:3:1 in molar ratio), and TdR co-administration on proliferation of KATO III human gastric cancer cells in culture was evaluated. Consumption of purine and pyrimidine by cancer cells and changes in cell number with OG-VI or TdR were compared with the control culture medium (Williams E) after 72 hour-culture. Addition of OG-VI or TdR did not enhance the cellular proliferation, but inhibited growth when given in higher concentrations (0.3-3 mM inosine, 0.3-3 mM 5'-GMP, 0.22-2.2 mM uridine, 74-740 microM TdR). Consumption rate of TdR in the medium was less in the TdR group, 33.7%, than in the OG-VI group, 72.2% (p < 0.05). This suggests that TdR metabolism is modulated by other nucleosides and nucleotide included in OG-VI. Under the coadministration of 5-fluorouracil (FUra), addition of OG-VI or TdR suppressed cellular proliferation (p < 0.05). The inhibition rate of cellular proliferation in the OG-VI group was slightly higher than the TdR group, but there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups. The combination of FUra with OG-VI or TdR enhances the antitumor effect of FUra. It is concluded that the OG-VI does not enhance the tumor cell proliferation and it is a potential biochemical modulator of FUra metabolism in human cancer cells.

Coassociation of Rap1A and Ha-Ras with Raf-1 N-terminal region interferes with ras-dependent activation of Raf-1.

Raf-1 is a major downstream effector of mammalian Ras. Binding of the effector domain of Ras to the Ras-binding domain of Raf-1 is essential for Ras-dependent Raf-1 activation. However, Rap1A, which has an identical effector domain to that of Ras, cannot activate Raf-1 and even antagonizes several Ras functions in vivo. Recently, we identified the cysteine-rich region (CRR) of Raf-1 as another Ras-binding domain. Ha-Ras proteins carrying mutations N26G and V45E, which failed to bind to CRR, also failed to activate Raf-1. Since these mutations replace Ras residues with those of Rap1A, we examined if Rap1A lacks the ability to bind to CRR. Contrary to the expectation, Rap1A exhibited a greatly enhanced binding to CRR compared with Ha-Ras. Enhanced CRR binding was also found with Ha-Ras carrying another Rap1A-type mutation E31K. Both Rap1A and Ha-Ras(E31K) mutant failed to activate Raf-1 and interfered with Ha-Ras-dependent activation of Raf-1 in Sf9 cells. Enhanced binding of Rap1A to CRR led to co-association of Rap1A and Ha-Ras with Raf-1 N-terminal region through binding to CRR and Ras-binding domain, respectively. These results suggest that Rap1A interferes with Ras-dependent Raf-1 activation by inhibiting binding of Ras to Raf-1 CRR.

Endothelin in liver cell injury and regeneration after 70% hepatectomy with portal ischemia.

Hepatic ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury caused by portal vein clamping is a common problem in hepatobiliary surgery. Endothelin (ET) is a potent vasoconstrictor and is associated with IR injury. This study evaluated the effect of ET on liver cell injury and hepatic regeneration after hepatectomy with IR. The portal veins of rats were clamped for 20 min, then unclamped and a 70% partial hepatectomy was performed. TAK-044 (TAK), the nonselective ETA/ETB receptor antagonist, was administered s.c. 30 min before laparotomy [TAK(+)]. Portal blood ET-1, GOT levels, hepatic blood flow, histologic change, DNA synthesis of hepatocytes, and the relationship of Ito cells and perisinusoidal cells were evaluated. ET-1 concentration increased after IR and was significantly higher in the TAK(+) group owing to the blockade of ET receptors. Increased GOT levels and sinusoidal congestion were reduced, but DNA synthesis of hepatocytes and hepatic blood flow did not change in the TAK(+) group. Changes in desmin staining showed that Ito cells might be related to IR injury. In conclusion, ET-1 was associated with IR injury and TAK-044 reduced but did not affect hepatocyte DNA synthesis after partial hepatectomy.