Segmental cholangitis impairs hepatic regeneration capacity after partial hepatectomy in rats

Abstract

Background: Patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma or hepatolithiasis often develop segmental cholangitis (SC), but it is unclear whether hepatectomy for patients with SC can be performed safely. Methods: Rats were subjected to segmental bile duct ligation (SBDL) with LPS (SC group) or a saline (Sham group) infusion into the bile duct of the ligated lobes. The rats were sacrificed at 3, 24 and 48 h after the SBDL. For another experiment, the rats were subjected to partial hepatectomy (PHx) for the ligated lobes. Hepatic regeneration rates and the expression of regeneration-associated genes were evaluated. Results: In the SC group, severe parenchymal damage was observed in the acute phase (3 h). Altered gene expression in the liver in response to biliary infection occurred not only in the infected lobes but also in the non-infected lobes. In the rats of the SC group, both the hepatic regeneration rate and serum HGF levels were significantly lower than in the Sham group. Conclusion: These results clearly demonstrate that SC impairs the regeneration capacity of the contralateral remnant liver. Therefore, hepatectomy should be avoided for patients with SC even if it occurs in the part of the liver to be resected. © 2010 International Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association.