G-CSF Stimulates Liver Repair

Rome, Italy -

G-CSF is clinically used to stimulate neutrophil production in patients who are neutropenic as a result of cancer therapy. Experimentally G-CSF is under investigation for mobilization of stem cells to help patients after cardiac infarct or stroke.

In a recent study (Piscaglia et al. Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor promotes liver repair and induces oval cell migration and proliferation in rats. Gastroenterology. 2007 Aug;133(2):619-31) the use of G-CSF in treatment of liver failure was investigated.

The scientists set up a model of liver regeneration by administration of 2-acetylaminofluorene and performance of partial hepatectomy in dipeptidyl-peptidase-IV-deficient female rats having wild-type male bone marrow.

The researchers found:

- Oval cells (considered a type of liver stem cell) expressed the G-CSF receptor

- G-CSF was produced endogenously in the process of liver regeneration

- Injection of exogenous G-CSF augmented oval cell proliferation

- The administration of G-CSF increased the contribution of bone marrow to liver repair

- In vitro G-CSF acts as a mitogen and a chemoattractant for oval cells