Pretreatment with recombinant human interleukin 2 (rhIL-2) Up-regulates PCNA-positive cells after partial hepatectomy in rat liver

We prepared recombinant human interleukin-2 (rhIL-2) and studied its pretreated influence on liver regeneration and the blood profile in partially (67%) hepatectomized (PH) male Sprague-Dawley rats. Rats were injected in the tail vein with rhIL-2 three times per day for 3 consecutive days and 67% underwent a partial hepatectomy (PH). Five days after the PH, liver tissue and blood samples were analyzed for liver regeneration and hematological changes. The weight of the liver in the rhIL-2 pretreated groups increased in a dose-dependent manner; with the highest treatment (24 × 104 IU/kg), the maximum liver weight of 88.6% was exhibited. The control group showed a gradual increase to 76.3% of the original liver weight. A histological analysis of the liver showed an increase in proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA)-positive cells in rhIL-2 pretreated rat livers. The rate of hepatocyte proliferation also increased significantly in primary cultured rat liver cells following rhIL-2 treatment. These results suggest that pretreatment with rhIL-2 may play adjuvant roles in liver regeneration after PH.