The impairment of hepatocytes and sinusoidal endothelial cells during cold preservation in rat fatty liver induced by alcohol and the beneficial effect of hepatocyte growth factor

A fatty liver resulting from alcohol intake is often unattractive for grafting. In this study, we investigated the impairment of hepatocytes and sinusoidal endothelial cells (SECs) during cold preservation of alcohol-induced fatty liver and examined the efficacy of human recombinant hepatocyte growth factor (hrHGF). Rats were fed an alcohol diet. We performed histological examinations of the hepatocytes and observed the ultrastructural alteration of the SECs. Additionally, we measured hepatic transaminase and peroxidative lipids for hepatocellular injury and the hyaluronic acid uptake rate (HUR) to determine SEC injury. We added hrHGF to University of Wisconsin (UW) solution to assess the protective effect of the agent. Numerous fatty deposits were observed in ethanol-induced fatty livers. These grew with the duration of cold storage. Hepatic transaminases of the effluents increased during cold preservation in the livers of alcohol-treated rats. Additionally, peroxidative lipids in the effluents increased during cold preservation in the livers of alcohol-treated rats, whereas they were undetectable in non-alcohol-treated rat livers. The sinusoidal endothelium had severely deteriorated in the livers of alcohol-treated rats. Further, the HUR decreased with ethanol treatment and/ or cold preservation. The addition of hrHGF suppressed the increase of hepatic transaminase in the effluent of cold-preserved alcohol-treated livers. Peroxidative lipids in the same effluents were undetectable. In fatty livers, both hepatocytes and SECs received severe damage during cold preservation. Furthermore, we demonstrated that hepatocellular injury was significantly inhibited by hrHGF.