Expression of CXC chemokine IP-10/Mob-1 by primary hepatocytes following heat shock

OBJECTIVE: To examine the expression of chemokine IP-10/Mob-1 of hepatocytes in responses to the stress imposed during isolation by collagenase perfusion.

METHODS: This study was performed in the Faculty of Life Sciences University of Manchester during 2001-2005. We employed western and northern blotting analysis to detect IP-10/Mob-1 in isolated and cultured hepatocytes in response to isolation stresses and under heat shock stimulation in this project.

RESULTS: We showed that the ELR-CXC chemokine, IP-10/Mob-1 is secreted from isolated rat hepatocytes immediately after isolation and early during culture and IP-10/Mob-1, expression by hepatocytes was also stimulated in response to heat shock.

CONCLUSION: It seems that hepatocytes mimic the experiences of liver injury in vivo such as during stress, trauma, or after insults, and therefore, produce stress related agents like IP-10/Mob-1 chemokine to overcome such a injurious condition following isolation and heat shock stimulation. This study also provides a useful model to study the regulation of expression of this chemokines in vitro.