Ductular hyperplasia is characterized by an over expression of c-Myc in bile duct ligation + furan injured rats: possible role of interleukin-6.

The aim of this study was focused on the analysis of gene expression of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, and c-Myc in liver carcinogenesis in bile duct ligation (BDL)+furan treated rats. We also correlated the molecular and immunohistochemical findings with the degree of architecture distortion and histopathological changes in the liver. Groups of rats were subjected to BDL and one week later, animals were given furan in corn oil by gavage at 45 mg/kg body weight, once a week, five times weekly, for 1--4 weeks. Determination of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines gene expression by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed in tissue, and liver sections were processed for immunohistochemistry of c-Myc. There was a significant increase in the TNF-alpha gene expression at the first week after BDL+furan treatment. Interleukin-6 gene expression was also increased at the first week and remained elevated up to the third week after treatment. C-Myc expression was detected beginning at the first week and peaking at fourth week after treatment where its expression was found at histologically distorted parenchymal areas. The present study suggest a possible relationship in the overexpression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and c-Myc in the development of carcinogenesis.