Major HGF-mediated regenerative pathways are similarly affected in human and canine cirrhosis.

Background: The availability of non-rodent animal models for human cirrhosis is limited. We investigated whether privately-owned dogs (Canis familiaris) are potential model animals for liver disease focusing on regenerative pathways. Several forms of canine hepatitis were examined: Acute Hepatitis (AH), Chronic Hepatitis (CH), Lobular Dissecting Hepatitis (LDH, a specific form of micronodulair cirrhosis), and Cirrhosis (CIRR). Canine cirrhotic samples were compared to human liver samples from cirrhotic stages of alcoholic liver disease (hALC) and chronic hepatitis C infection (hHC).

Results: Canine specific mRNA expression of the regenerative hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) signaling pathway and relevant down-stream pathways were measured by semi-quantitative PCR and Western blot (STAT3, PKB, ERK1/2, and p38-MAPK). In all canine groups, levels of c-MET mRNA (proto-oncogenic receptor for HGF) were significantly decreased (p < 0.05). Surprisingly, ERK1/2 and p38-MAPK were increased in CH and LDH. In the human liver samples Western blotting indicated a high homology of down-stream pathways between different etiologies (hALC and hHC). Similarly activated pathways were found in CIRR, hALC, and hHC.

Conclusion: In canine hepatitis and cirrhosis the major regenerative downstream pathways were activated. Signaling pathways are similarly activated in human cirrhotic liver samples, irrespective of the differences in etiology in the human samples (alcohol abuse and HCV-infection). Therefore, canine hepatitis and cirrhosis could be an important clinical model to evaluate novel interventions prior to human clinical trials.