Heparin-Binding EGF-like Growth-Factor Is a Potent Mitogen for Rat Hepatocytes

摘要: Abstract We examined the hepatotrophic activity of heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor (HB-EGF), a recently identified potent mitogen for vascular smooth muscle cells and tibroblasts. HB-EGF stimulated DNA synthesis rat hepatocytes in primary culture dose-dependent manner up to 30 ng/ml. The maximal stimulation by represented more than 80 % that induced HGF. In normal liver, transcript gene was detected non-parenchymal very low level hepatocytes. regenerating liver on 3rd day after 70% hepatectomy, mRNA increased cells, suggesting may contribute regeneration through paracrine mechanism.