Influence of spleen cells on the growth of liver cells exposed to oxidative stress in vitro

Previous studies evaluated the influence of mitogens, partial hepatectomy and other factors on liver regeneration. Oxidative stress was also investigated as well as its influence on development of tumors and degenerative processes on liver, lungs and arteries. The main aim of the study was to investigate interactions between spleen and liver cells in condition of oxidative stress induced by HNE. Results have shown that in physiological (1?M) concentration, HNE is cell growth modulator, but the liver cell growth is inhibited by high, cytotoxic concentration of HNE (100?M). The spleen cells also inhibit liver cell growth, but only if present in relatively high proportion to liver cells (1:40). Liver cells damaged by cytotoxic concentration of HNE (verified by the specific immunocytochemical determination of the HNE-protein conjugates in the cells) can recover with the help of spleen cells, therfore, it seems likely that spleen cells do not only eliminate damaged cells during liver regeneration, but also assist their recovery if the damage was associated with the lipid peroxidation. So, HNE is important factor of systemic control of the growth of liver cells, as a growth facter and as modifier of the immune response (involving spleen cells) to the liver damage and consequential regeneration, i.e. proliferation of the liver cells.