Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) is a key nuclear receptor involved in the control of lipid homeostasis. In rodents, PPARα is also a potent hepatic mitogen. Hepatocyte-specific disruption of PPARα inhibits agonist-induced hepatocyte proliferation; however, little is known about the exact role of PPARα in partial hepatectomy (PHx)-induced liver regeneration. Herein, using hepatocyte-specific PPARα-deficient (PparaΔHep) mice, the function of hepatocyte PPARα in PHx-induced liver regeneration was investigated. PPARα protein level and transcriptional activity were increased in the liver after PHx. Compared with the Pparafl/fl mice, PparaΔHep mice exhibited significantly reduced hepatocyte proliferation at 32 hours after PHx. Consistently, reduced Ccnd1 and Pcna mRNA and CYCD1 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen protein were observed at 32 hours after PHx in PparaΔHep mice. Furthermore, PparaΔHep mice showed increased hepatic lipid accumulation and enhanced hepatic triglyceride contents because of impaired hepatic fatty acid β-oxidation when compared with that observed in Pparafl/fl mice. These results indicate that PPARα promotes liver regeneration after PHx, at least partially via regulating the cell cycle and lipid metabolism.
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