Partial purification and characterization of hepatocyte proliferation stimulatory factor from liver of rats treated with D-galactosamine.

The partial purification and characterization of a hepatocyte proliferation stimulatory factor (HPSF) isolated from the liver of D-galactosamine-treated rats are described. The HPSF was a heat-labile, acid-stable and trypsin-sensitive protein. The partially purified HPSF stimulated DNA synthesis and increased the labeling index of parenchymal hepatocytes at 5 micrograms/ml and maximally at 50 micrograms/ml. The effect of HPSF in stimulating DNA synthesis was synergistic with that of insulin plus epidermal growth factor (EGF). The HPSF was scarcely detected in normal rat liver. The results obtained indicate that this HPSF is distinct from insulin, multiplication-stimulating activity (MSA), EGF and other hepatocyte growth factors previously reported, and suggest a plausible role for HPSF in the regeneration of liver tissue following hepatotoxic damage.