The effect and mechanism of highland barley β-glucan in improving liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy

Studies have shown the beneficial effect of highland barley ss-glucan (HBBG) on multiple acute and chronic liver diseases, however, whether it can improve liver regeneration following 2/3 partial hepatectomy (PH) is yet unknown. This study investigated the positive effect of ss-glucan on liver regeneration in acute liver injury after PH. Before PH or CCl4 administration, mice were fed either a chow diet or that containing 5 or 10% HBBG for two weeks. The experimental mice were weighed on days 0, 1, and 2 after PH or CCl4 treatment, and the serum and liver tissue were collected. qRT-PCR, Western blotting, TUNEL staining, and immunostaining analysis were performed to measure the associated indices of proliferation and apoptosis of hepatocytes. We found that 5% HBBG promoted hepatocyte proliferation and liver regeneration and increased the liver/body weight ratio at 1 and 2 days after PH in mice. Mechanistically, HBBG activated the STAT3-CyclinD1 signaling pathway to increase hepatocyte proliferation, accelerating their transition from the G0 to S phase. Additionally, the HBBG intervention decreased hepatocyte apoptosis in the CCl4-induced liver injury model of mice. Concisely, HBBG can promote hepatocyte proliferation and liver regeneration via the STAT3-CyclinD1 signaling pathway in acute liver injury or PH.