A Study of Hox Gene Expression Profile During Murine Liver Regeneration

Liver is an organ having an ability to regenerate by itself when it is damaged or removed. Since the research on the liver regeneration so far was regarding on the cellular multiplications not the formation of the shape, we intended to analyze the expression pattern of Hox genes during liver regeneration. RNA samples isolated from liver at the time of partial hepatectomy, 4 hours as well as 3 days later following regeneration were used to perform RT-PCR with Hox-specific degenerate primers. The PCR products were cloned, sequenced and analyzed through BLAST program. Genes belonging to the AbdB type Hox genes (paralogous groups IX-XIII) expressed predominantly during regeneration, while the other group (I-VII), especially Hoxal and bl seemed to be expressed continuously before and after regeneration. These data altogether imply that paralogous group IX and X genes including Hoxa10 and d10 seemed to be regeneration specific genes of liver.