Decorin accelerates the liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy in fibrotic mice

Background Considering the existence of a large number of liver cell degeneration and necrosis in fibrotic liver, liver function was damaged severely and could not effectively regenerate after partial hepatectomy (PHx). The aim of this study was to investigate whether decorin (DCN) could promote the liver regeneration after PHx in fibrotic mice. Methods Forty mice (5-week-old, Balb/c) were injected with CCl4 intraperitoneally and liver fibrosis model was established after 5 weeks. The survival mice were randomly divided into two groups: control group and DCN group. Then, we performed 70% PHx on all these mice and injected DCN or phosphate-buffered saline plus normal saline (NS) to each group, respectively, after surgery. Liver body weight ratio (LBR), quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, and immunohistochemistry were used to analyze liver regeneration and fibrosis degree in both groups, and to find out whether exogenous protein DCN could promote the regeneration of fibrosis liver after PHx. Results Expressions of alpha-smooth muscle actin (SMA) mRNA and LBR had significant increases in the DCN group at postoperative Day 3 (POD 3, P<0.05). The protein expressions of CD31, alpha-SMA, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha were higher in the DCN group than those in the control group by immunohistochemistry at POD 3 (P<0.05). Conclusion Exogenous protein DCN could promote liver regeneration after PHx in fibrotic mice.