Enhanced liver regeneration in rats treated with 15-deoxyspergualin alone and in combination with FK 506.

The effects of 15-deoxyspergualin (DSG) alone and in combination with FK 506 (FK) on liver regeneration after 2/3 hepatectomy was studied. The administration of 5 mg/kg DSG increased the liver weight as a percentage of the body weight (RLW) in the 5 days following the hepatectomy. This enhanced regeneration was not affected if interleukin(IL)-2 was also given. The combination of 1 mg/kg DSG and 0.05 mg/kg FK induced the highest values for RLW. The amounts of food and water intake increased in the DSG and FK combined group. Blood chemistry indicated that the combined administration of DSG and FK could reduce side-effects more effectively than separate administration. These observation led us to conclude that DSG has a stimulating potency in liver regeneration by means of direct suppression of T cell activation, and there is a synergistic effect on regeneration by DSG and FK.