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.