To study the expression and significance of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) , glypican-3 (GPC3) , zinc fingers and homeoboxes (ZHX) 2 and zinc finger protein ZBTB20 in mouse liver regeneration.

Thirty C57/BL6 mice were divided into liver regeneration model group and liver trace resection group with 15 mice per group. The mice in the liver regeneration model group underwent 70% liver resection and the mice in the liver trace resection group underwent 5% liver section. The liver tissues right after resection (0 h) and 2, 4, 24, 48, 72 h after resection were obtained and the expression of AFP messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) were tested by real time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis. The expression of GPC3, ZHX2, ZBTB20 mRNA of liver tissues at 24, 48, 72 h after resection were also tested by real time RT-PCR analysis and the difference between 2 groups were compared by t-test.

The AFP mRNA expression levels at 2, 4, 24, 48, 72 h after liver resection were (70±20)%, (80±20)%, (90±10)%, (240±40)%, (870±120)% respectively compared with the level of the normal liver tissues. There was significant difference between the AFP gene expression of liver tissues at 72 h after resection and 24, 48 h after resection(t=11.2、8.6, P=0.001, 0.001). The GPC3 mRNA expression 24, 48, 72 h after liver resection were (50±10)%, (120±20)%, (190±50)% of the normal liver tissues. The AFP and GPC3 expression inereased obviously at 24 h and 48 h after resection. There was significant difference between GPC3 gene expression in the liver tissues of 72 h and 24 h after resection (t=4.8, P=0.01). ZHX2, ZBTB20 mRNA expression in the liver tissues of 24 h and 48 h were (50±10)%, (60±10)% and (70±20)%, (50±10)% of the normal liver tissues. The ZHX2 expression in the liver tissues of 72 h rose by (120±30)% and there was significant difference compared with that of 24 h, 48 h (t=3.8、3.3, P=0.04、0.04). The ZBTB20 expression in the liver tissues of 72 h rose by (140±30)% and there was significant difference compared with that of 24 h, 48 h (t=3.4、4.9, P=0.04、0.01).

The liver regeneration is activated after partial hepatectomy. AFP and GPC3 may play a role in the initiative regulation of cell proliferation during the liver regeneration. The expression of ZHX2, ZBTB20 mRNA are down-regulated during the initial state and thus the transcription inhibition of AFP and GPC3 decline so thus promote the liver regeneration.