Mecanismos del precondicionamiento regenerativo en hepatectomías subtotales en modelo porcino

Background: Portal vein occlusion shortly before extended hepatic resections has hepatoprotective properties, but its mole-cular effects have not been elucidated. We characterized the impact of regenerative preconditioning by portal vein embolization (PVE) on hepatic energy metabolism and cytokine expression. Materials and methods: About 90% hepatectomies were performed in normal pigs (Control) and in pigs that underwent a PVE 24 h before the surgery (n = 10/group). Blood bioche-mistry and coagulation, liver damage, liver function (ICG), hepatic content of adenine nucleotides, and hepatic expression of inflammatory mediators (RT-PCR and WB) were determined before the hepatectomy, 15 min, and 24 h later. Results: All PVE and hepatectomies were successfully accomplished. The 90% hepatectomy resulted in: Immediate reduction of ATP, leading to persistent decreases of energy load and ATP/ADP ratio up to the 24-h time-point; and pro-inflammatory expression profile of cytokines in the remnant liver. Prior performance of PVE attenuated the bioenergetic alterations and prevented many of the changes in hepatic cytokine expression. Conclusions: Regenerative preconditioning by PVE improved hepatic energy meta-bolism and modulated inflammatory mediators in the remnant liver in pigs undergoing major hepatectomies, potentially contri-buting to its hepatoprotective effects.