The effect of anti-TNF? monoclonal antibody therapy on regeneration process after liver resection

Aim: To assess the effect of infliximab, anti-TNF? monoclonal antibody, on the early period of liver regeneration in experimentally hepatectomized rats.Materials and Method: This experimental study has been performed in Experimental Surgery Laboratory at Adnan Menderes University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine between January and February 2008. Sixty male Wistar-Albino rats, weighting between 174-270 g were used in the study. Rats were divided into two major groups; control (n= 30) and infliximab (n= 30) groups. Each group divided into three subgroups; laparotomy group (n= 10), hepatic resection and sacrification after 24 hours group (n= 10), hepatic resection and sacrification after 48 hours group (n= 10). After laparotomy and %70 liver resection, intraperitoneal infliximab enjection to the study groups and 3 cc 0.9 % NaCl enjection to the control groups has been done. After the liver resection the resected liver tissues were weighted. Rats were sacrificated after the blood samples were collected from vena cava inferior and remaining liver tissues were resected and weighted. Serum aspartate transaminase and alanine transaminase were measured. From the speciments of tissue catalase, interleukin 6, interleukin 4, nitric oxide, malonyldialdehyde, total glutathion were measured. Relative liver weight was used as a morphological parameter for liver regeneration. Histopathologic assessment has been performed to determine bromodeoxyuridine.Results: There were statistically significant differences between infliximab and control groups in aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, catalase, malonyldialdehyde, total glutathion, interleukin 4 ve interleukin 6 at 24 and 48 hours (p<0.05). However, there were no statistically significant differences between infliximab and control groups in nitric oxide and relative liver weight parameters at 24 and 48 hours (p>0.05). Bromodeoxyuridine labeling index were significantly higher in infliximab group for each time period (p<0.05).Conclusion: The anti-TNF? monoclonal antibody infliximab, improves both histological and functional liver regeneration after liver resection. With further studies, clinical implementation should be considered.Key words: Anti-TNF? monoclonal antibody, İnfliximab, liver regeneration.