Dr. Ove studies how the liver regenerates and heals itself, particularly after surgery or injury. He investigates various substances and drugs, like tamoxifen and growth factors, to see how they affect liver cell growth, bile production, and overall liver function. His research also examines how factors such as age, sex, and diet can influence liver regeneration and the risks of liver diseases like cancer. Understanding these processes can help improve treatments for people undergoing liver surgeries or suffering from liver damage.
Key findings
Tamoxifen reduced liver cell DNA synthesis and growth by 1 microgram per gram of body weight within the first 6 hours after partial liver removal.
The drug SRI 63-441 increased bile production by 91% and reduced liver damage in livers that had experienced ischemia (lack of blood supply) for 90 minutes.
Injecting a specific liver growth factor led to a threefold increase in DNA synthesis in liver cells from rats after partial liver removal.
Livers preserved in a UW-lactobionate solution showed a significant enhancement in bile production and less tissue damage compared to those stored in a standard solution.
Liver cells from male rats produced significantly more DNA in response to epidermal growth factor compared to female rat liver cells.
Frequently asked questions
Does Dr. Ove study liver regeneration?
Yes, Dr. Ove focuses on how liver cells grow and regenerate, especially after surgeries or injuries.
What treatments has Dr. Ove researched for liver health?
He has researched substances like tamoxifen and SRI 63-441, which can improve liver recovery and function.
Is Dr. Ove's work relevant to patients with liver diseases?
Yes, his research provides critical insights that can enhance treatments for various liver conditions, including cancer and damage from surgery.
Are there any findings that help liver transplant patients?
Yes, his studies on liver preservation methods can improve outcomes for patients awaiting liver transplants.
How does Dr. Ove's research benefit older patients?
His research addresses age-related differences in liver function, helping to understand challenges older patients face with liver repair.
Publications in plain English
Response of cultured hepatocytes to a hepatomitogen after initiation by conditioned medium or other factors.
1989
Cancer research
Ove P, Francavilla A, Coetzee ML, Makowka L, Starzl TE
Plain English Researchers studied how a liver growth factor, called a hepatomitogen, affects liver cells in rats and in a lab setting. They found that when this factor was injected into rats with a significant portion of their liver removed, it led to a marked increase in liver cell growth, with DNA synthesis rising significantly. Additionally, while healthy liver cells in a lab didn’t respond to the factor alone, they did grow more when the growth factor was combined with a special solution derived from responsive liver cell lines.
Who this helps: This benefits patients recovering from liver surgery or liver damage by potentially improving how their liver regenerates.
Pharmacologic modulation of experimental postischemic hepatic function.
1989
Annals of surgery
Ontell SJ, Makowka L, Trager J, Mazzaferro V, Ove P +1 more
Plain English This study looked at how three different drugs affect liver function after it has been without blood for 90 minutes. The drug SRI 63-441 showed the best results; it increased bile production by 91%, reduced liver damage, and improved energy levels in liver cells compared to untreated livers. This matters because it suggests a potential treatment to reduce liver damage after ischemia, which can happen during surgeries or organ transplants.
Who this helps: This helps patients undergoing liver surgery or organ transplantation.
The effect of estrogen and tamoxifen on hepatocyte proliferation in vivo and in vitro.
1989
Hepatology (Baltimore, Md.)
Francavilla A, Polimeno L, DiLeo A, Barone M, Ove P +5 more
Plain English This study looked at how estrogen and tamoxifen affect liver cell growth in both living animals and lab cultures. Researchers found that tamoxifen significantly slowed down liver cell growth after removing a portion of the liver, especially when administered within the first 6 hours post-surgery. Specifically, giving 1 microgram of tamoxifen per gram of body weight reduced DNA synthesis and cell division during this time. This research is important because it helps understand how to manage liver regeneration and could influence treatment approaches for liver diseases.
Who this helps: This benefits patients undergoing liver surgery and doctors involved in liver health management.
Improved hepatic function in the 24-hour preserved rat liver with UW-lactobionate solution and SRI 63-441.
1988
Gastroenterology
Ontell SJ, Makowka L, Ove P, Starzl TE
Plain English This study looked at how well rat livers are preserved for 9, 12, and 24 hours using two different solutions: the standard Eurocollins solution and a newer UW-lactobionate solution. The researchers found that livers stored in the UW-lactobionate solution produced more bile and had less damage after being warmed and tested, showing that it is a better option for liver preservation — with a significant improvement in bile production when a specific treatment (SRI 63-441) was applied before storage. This is important because it offers a better way to preserve organs for transplantation, which can improve outcomes for patients waiting for liver transplants.
Who this helps: This helps patients awaiting liver transplants.
Isolation of an autocrine growth factor from hepatoma HTC-SR cells.
1987
Journal of cellular physiology
Ove P, Coetzee ML, Scalamogna P, Francavilla A, Starzl TE
Plain English This study focused on identifying a specific growth factor from HTC-SR rat liver cancer cells that causes these same cells to grow and divide more rapidly. Researchers found that this factor can significantly boost DNA synthesis in HTC cells, showing a notable increase in cell numbers after 48 hours of exposure; specifically, adding the growth factor led to not just faster DNA production, but also more cells entering the growth phase. This discovery is important because it helps us understand how cancer cells can promote their own growth, which may lead to better strategies for treating liver cancers.
Who this helps: This research benefits doctors and researchers working on liver cancer treatments.
Different response to epidermal growth factor of hepatocytes in cultures isolated from male or female rat liver. Inhibitor effect of estrogen on binding and mitogenic effect of epidermal growth factor.
1987
Gastroenterology
Francavilla A, Ove P, Polimeno L, Sciascia C, Coetzee M +4 more
Plain English This study looked at how liver cells (hepatocytes) from male and female rats respond to a growth factor called epidermal growth factor (EGF), which stimulates DNA production. Researchers found that male rat liver cells produced significantly more DNA in response to EGF than female rat liver cells, with the difference being particularly noticeable in regenerating liver cells. Specifically, male hepatocytes showed a higher response to EGF, while female hepatocytes had fewer receptors for EGF and were more affected by estrogen, which inhibited their DNA synthesis.
Who this helps: This research is important for scientists studying liver regeneration and metabolism, as it highlights differences based on sex that could affect their experiments and conclusions.
Extraction and partial purification of a hepatic stimulatory substance in rats, mice, and dogs.
1987
Cancer research
Francavilla A, Ove P, Polimeno L, Coetzee M, Makowka L +3 more
Plain English Researchers studied a substance from the livers of young rats that boosts liver cell growth and DNA production. When injected into rats that had undergone partial liver removal, this substance increased DNA synthesis three times more than the usual response, showing that even small amounts (from 1.76 to 6.8 micrograms) can have a significant effect. This discovery is important because it could lead to new treatments that promote liver regeneration in patients with liver damage.
Who this helps: Patients with liver injuries or diseases.
Epidermal growth factor and proliferation in rat hepatocytes in primary culture isolated at different times after partial hepatectomy.
1986
Cancer research
Francavilla A, Ove P, Polimeno L, Sciascia C, Coetzee ML +1 more
Plain English This study looked at how liver cells from rats grow in the lab after part of the liver has been removed. Researchers found that liver cells taken 24 hours after surgery showed three times more DNA growth than normal liver cells, especially when treated with epidermal growth factor. This matters because understanding how to stimulate liver cell growth could help improve recovery after liver surgery or injury.
Who this helps: This helps patients recovering from liver surgery.
Endogenous hepatic growth-modulating factors and effects of a choline-devoid diet and of phenobarbital on hepatocarcinogenesis in the rat.
1985
Nutrition and cancer
Lombardi B, Ove P, Reddy TV
Plain English This study looked at how different diets and a drug affect liver growth and cancer development in rats. Researchers found that when rats were on a choline-devoid diet, their liver showed a significant increase in cell growth factors, which heightened cancer risks. Specifically, after being on this diet, there was a notable shift in the balance of growth factors that promote liver cell proliferation, increasing the likelihood of cancer growth in these animals.
Who this helps: This research is important for understanding liver cancer risks in patients with low choline diets.
A comparison of DNA repair synthesis in primary hepatocytes from young and old rats.
1985
Mechanisms of ageing and development
Kennah HE, Coetzee ML, Ove P
Plain English This study looked at how liver cells from young (3 months old) and old (16-20 months old) rats repair their DNA after it's damaged by factors like UV light or a chemical called bleomycin. The researchers found that liver cells from young rats incorporated almost twice as much of a marker indicating DNA repair compared to those from older rats after UV damage. Specifically, older rat cells were not only more prone to DNA damage but also less able to repair it, with a significant drop in repair activity noted.
Who this helps: This research is important for understanding age-related liver issues, benefiting both patients and doctors by highlighting potential weaknesses in older individuals' liver function.
Regenerating rat liver: correlations between estrogen receptor localization and deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis.
1984
Gastroenterology
Francavilla A, di Leo A, Eagon PK, Wu SQ, Ove P +2 more
Plain English This study looked at how estrogen receptors in rat liver change during the liver regeneration process after 75% of the liver is removed. It found that, 48 hours after surgery, the amount of estrogen binding in the cytosol (the fluid part of the cell) is reduced to 30% of what it is in healthy liver, while binding in the nucleus (the cell's control center) increases five times compared to normal. These changes are linked to greater DNA production and cell division in the liver, which are important for the regeneration process.
Who this helps: This helps researchers and doctors working on liver regeneration therapies.
Induction of hepatocyte stimulating activity by T3 and appearance of the activity despite inhibition of DNA synthesis by adriamycin.
1984
Hormone and metabolic research = Hormon- und Stoffwechselforschung = Hormones et metabolisme
Francavilla A, Ove P, Van Thiel DH, Coetzee ML, Wu SK +2 more
Plain English Researchers studied a substance called hepatocyte stimulating activity (HSA) found in rats after they were given T3, a thyroid hormone. They discovered that this HSA significantly boosted liver cell DNA production in rats that had part of their liver removed. Even when DNA synthesis was blocked by a drug called adriamycin, HSA still appeared, showing that it works independently of the DNA process.
Who this helps: This benefits patients recovering from liver surgery or liver-related diseases.
Estrogen binding protein activity in Morris hepatoma 7777 compared with normal rat liver.
1984
Gastroenterology
Francavilla A, Eagon PK, DiLeo A, Van Thiel DH, Ove P +3 more
Plain English This study looked at how an estrogen-binding protein behaves in a type of liver cancer (Morris hepatoma 7777) compared to normal rat liver. The researchers found that the cancer liver had much lower levels of the protein, measuring just 0.41 femtomoles per milligram of protein, compared to 31.1 femtomoles in healthy liver. This matters because understanding these differences can help scientists identify new ways to target liver cancer treatments more effectively.
Who this helps: This helps patients with liver cancer and their doctors.
Discordance between glucokinase activity and insulin and glucagon receptor changes occurring during liver regeneration in the rat.
1984
Hormone and metabolic research = Hormon- und Stoffwechselforschung = Hormones et metabolisme
Francavilla A, Di Leo A, Wu SQ, Ove P, Van Thiel D +2 more
Plain English Researchers studied how the liver in rats changes during regeneration after removing 70% of it. They found that insulin receptors on liver cells increased after 1-2 days, while receptors for glucagon decreased over 2-8 days, leading to a higher insulin to glucagon ratio. Interestingly, even though more insulin receptors were present, the enzyme that helps insulin work, called glucokinase, was less active during this time.
Who this helps: This research helps doctors better understand liver regeneration and how insulin works in this process.
Synthesis of an hypothesis advocating a prominent role for the thyroid hormones in mammalian liver cell proliferation in vivo.
1983
Cytobios
Short J, Ove P
Plain English This research examined how thyroid hormones affect the growth of liver cells in mammals. The study found that when the liver cells are preparing to divide, there is a drop in specific binding sites for thyroid hormones, which seems to trigger DNA replication. This connection is important because it shows how thyroid hormones can influence liver health and regeneration.
Who this helps: This helps patients with liver conditions and doctors treating these diseases.
Partial characterization of specific nuclear triiodothyronine binding sites in two transplantable Morris hepatomas in the rat.
1983
Anticancer research
Truitte D, Ove P, Short J
Plain English This study examined how certain proteins in cancerous liver tumors (Morris hepatomas) bind to a thyroid hormone known as triiodothyronine. Researchers found that these binding sites in the tumors only have 60% of the binding capacity compared to healthy liver, and they are more occupied in the tumors than in normal liver. Understanding these differences is important because they might relate to how quickly the cancer cells grow.
Who this helps: This helps researchers and doctors who are studying liver cancer and searching for more effective treatments.
Correlation of circulating levels of a serum protein with triiodothyronine levels and hepatoma growth.
1982
Cancer research
Coetzee ML, Short J, Klein K, Ove P
Plain English This study looked at how a specific protein in the blood and a hormone called triiodothyronine relate to the growth of a type of liver tumor in rats. Researchers found that when levels of triiodothyronine were higher, the protein levels also increased, and this was linked to more cancer cell growth. For example, when rats had part of their thyroid removed and received injections of triiodothyronine, tumor growth increased significantly.
Who this helps: This research benefits patients with liver cancer and their doctors by providing insights into potential treatment approaches.
Amounts of triiodothyronine and a serum protein related to hepatic DNA synthesis in the rat.
1981
Hormone and metabolic research = Hormon- und Stoffwechselforschung = Hormones et metabolisme
Klein K, Chou R, Short J, Ove P
Plain English Researchers studied a specific protein in rats that is linked to liver cell growth, particularly after liver surgery or thyroid hormone injections. They found that this protein levels drop after liver surgery but rise significantly above normal levels within a day and remain elevated for 12 days. Higher amounts of thyroid hormone (T3) led to increased protein levels, which in turn boosted liver cell DNA synthesis, indicating that this protein may play an important role in liver health and recovery.
Who this helps: This information benefits doctors and patients recovering from liver surgery, as well as those with liver cancers.
Involvement of the lodothyronines in liver and hepatoma cell proliferation in the rat.
1980
Cancer research
Short J, Klein K, Kibert L, Ove P
Plain English This study looked at the role of thyroid hormones in the growth of liver cells and liver tumors in rats. Researchers found that when rats were given a high dose of a specific thyroid hormone, their liver cells multiplied more quickly. In rats that had their thyroids removed, liver tumor growth slowed down significantly; however, giving thyroid hormones back boosted tumor growth again, indicating that these hormones are important for both healthy liver cells and liver cancer cells.
Who this helps: This research helps doctors understand how thyroid hormones influence liver health and cancer growth, which could lead to better treatments for patients with liver issues.
Chromatin protein methylation in proliferating liver and hepatoma cells.
1979
Cytobios
Short J, Kibert L, Wedmore R, Ove P, Zemel R
Plain English The study explored how certain proteins in liver cells are modified through methylation, especially in healthy liver cells and liver cancer cells (hepatomas). It found that these proteins were methylated more in the growing liver cells and cancer cells compared to normal ones, indicating increased activity during cell division. This is important because understanding these changes may provide insights into how cancer cells grow and replicate.
Who this helps: This research benefits doctors and researchers who study liver diseases and cancer.
Inhibition of tritiated thymidine incorporation in cultured cells by rat kidney extract.
1979
Journal of the National Cancer Institute
Klein K, Coetzee ML, Madhav R, Ove P
Plain English This study looked at how extracts from rat kidneys and livers affect the growth of cultured cells. Researchers found that an extract from rat kidneys significantly reduced the incorporation of a substance called thymidine, which is essential for DNA synthesis—nearly stopping it right after adding the extract. After removing the kidney extract, normal thymidine incorporation returned within 24 hours, showing that the effect was temporary.
Who this helps: This research benefits scientists studying cell growth and cancer treatment.
The effect of several antitumor agents on 3H-TTP incorporation in host liver and hepatoma nuclei.
1977
Oncology
Coetzee ML, Sartiano GP, Klein K, Ove P
Plain English This research studied the impact of six different anti-tumor antibiotics on the incorporation of a radioactive compound (3H-TTP) in liver cells from healthy rats and cancerous cells from liver tumors. The findings revealed that three antibiotics inhibited the incorporation equally in both healthy and cancerous cells, two were more effective in the cancerous cells, and one actually stimulated the process in healthy liver cells. This is important because it helps identify which anti-tumor agents might be more effective against cancer while sparing healthy cells.
Who this helps: This benefits researchers and oncologists looking for effective cancer treatments.
Inhibition of growth of Morris hepatomas 7777 and 7800 by corn oil.
1977
Oncology
Gilbertson JR, Gelman RA, Ove P, Coetzee ML
Plain English This study looked at how corn oil affects the growth of specific liver tumors (Morris hepatomas 7777 and 7800) in rats. Researchers found that giving rats small amounts of corn oil before and after injecting tumor tissue significantly slowed down tumor growth compared to other oils or salt water. Specifically, the growth rate of both tumors was noticeably reduced, indicating that corn oil has a unique effect on tumor growth.
Who this helps: This benefits researchers and doctors looking for effective treatments for liver cancer.
Inhibition of bleomycin-induced [3H] thymidine 5'-triphosphate incorporation into liver and hepatoma nuclei by N-ethyl maleimide and daunomycin.
1977
The Journal of antibiotics
Coetzee ML, Sartiano GP, Klein K, Ove P
Plain English This study focused on how bleomycin, a drug used in cancer treatment, affects DNA in liver cells and cancerous liver cells. The researchers found that bleomycin increases the incorporation of a radioactive form of thymidine into DNA, indicating DNA damage. They discovered that two other compounds, N-ethyl maleimide and daunomycin, can reduce this damage in different ways: N-ethyl maleimide can stop bleomycin from breaking DNA, while daunomycin affects how the body repairs DNA damage.
Who this helps: This research benefits cancer patients and doctors by providing insights into ways to protect against DNA damage from treatments.
Effect of camptothecin and adriamycin on bleomycin-induced tritiated thymidine triphosphate incorporation in a rat nuclear system.
1977
Journal of the National Cancer Institute
Sartiano GP, Cotezee ML, Klein K, Ove P
Plain English This study looked at how two drugs, camptothecin and adriamycin, affect the incorporation of a compound called [3H]TTP into liver cells in rats that were treated with bleomycin, a drug that can damage DNA. The researchers found that while camptothecin increased the incorporation of [3H]TTP when added to bleomycin treatment, adriamycin actually reduced it, showing a potential sensitivity of cancer cells to this drug. Specifically, bleomycin boosted TTP incorporation by 50% in liver nuclei and by 80% in slower-growing liver tumors, while adriamycin inhibited TTP incorporation by about 30%.
Who this helps: This research benefits doctors and researchers working to improve cancer treatments.
Effect of bleomycin on [3H]Thymidine 5'-Triphosphate incorporation into host liver and hepatoma nuclei.
1976
Cancer research
Spangler M, Sartiano GP, Coetzee ML, Ove P
Plain English This study looked at how a drug called bleomycin affects the incorporation of a specific compound into the nuclei of liver cells and liver tumors (hepatomas). It found that bleomycin increased this process 13 times in normal liver cells and 16 times in one type of liver tumor, although the response was lower in other tumor types. This matters because it highlights differences in how liver cells and cancer cells respond to treatment, suggesting that some liver tumors may not repair damage as well as normal cells, which could impact treatment effectiveness.
Who this helps: This helps doctors and researchers understand liver cancer treatment better.
Synthesis and half-life of a serum factor in normal and tumor-bearing animals.
1976
Journal of the National Cancer Institute
Dolan ML, Sudbury B, Ove P
Plain English This study looked at a specific protein in the blood of rats with liver tumors and found that while these rats produced this protein at a higher rate than healthy rats, it disappeared from their blood much faster. Specifically, the protein lasted about 23 hours in normal rats but only about 9 hours in those with tumors. This rapid loss explains why the protein was nearly absent in rats with larger tumors, highlighting a significant disruption in how the body handles this protein when fighting cancer.
Who this helps: This information benefits researchers and doctors working on cancer treatments.
Clinica chimica acta; international journal of clinical chemistry
Sudbury B, Dolan ML, Klein K, Ove P
Plain English Researchers studied a specific protein in the blood of pregnant rats, which makes up about 1% of their total blood protein. They found that this protein increased significantly during pregnancy, especially just before the rats gave birth, and remained elevated for at least 12 days after giving birth. Notably, this protein was not found in the blood of rats with certain tumors, meaning the protein's levels decrease when tumors grow, indicating it might be linked to healthy pregnancy.
Who this helps: This information could benefit researchers studying pregnancy and related health conditions in both animals and humans.
Effect of a normal serum protein absent from hepatoma-bearing animals on cell cultures.
1975
Journal of the National Cancer Institute
Dolan ML, Coetzee ML, Spangler M, Ove P
Plain English This study looked at a protein found in healthy rat blood and its effects on cell growth in the lab. Researchers found that this protein was missing in rats with liver tumors, and as the tumors grew, the protein levels decreased. When they added this protein back to the blood from tumor-bearing rats, it significantly improved cell growth and function, restoring it to nearly normal levels.
Who this helps: This research benefits cancer researchers and potentially patients with liver tumors, as it identifies a factor that could be vital for understanding tumor effects on normal cellular growth.
Stimulatory effect of a serum factor on DNA synthesis in isolated hepatoma nuclei.
1975
Oncology
Coetzee ML, Dolan ML, Ove P
Plain English This study looked at a specific protein in the blood of normal rats that is missing in rats with advanced liver tumors (hepatomas). Researchers found that this protein helps liver cancer cells take in DNA-building blocks, increasing their growth when tested in a lab. Specifically, they noted that the protein led to a significant rise in DNA synthesis in cancer cells, while normal liver cells were not affected. Understanding how this protein stimulates cancer cell growth could help develop new treatments for liver cancer.
Who this helps: Patients with liver cancer.
DNA synthesis in membrane-denuded nuclei and nuclear fractions from host liver and Morris hepatomas.
1975
Cancer research
Coetzee ML, Spangler M, Morris HP, Ove P
Plain English This study looked at how DNA is made in cells from both healthy liver tissue and tumors (specifically Morris hepatomas). Researchers found that cancerous liver cells incorporated DNA building blocks into their DNA six times more than normal liver cells, with the increased activity not linked to the presence of the nuclear membrane. These findings suggest that the differences in DNA synthesis between cancer and healthy cells are due to the structure and arrangement of elements within the nucleus, rather than the types or amounts of enzymes present.
Who this helps: This helps doctors and researchers working on cancer treatments.
Some biochemical characteristics of rat liver and Morris hepatoma nuclei and nuclear membranes.
1975
Cancer research
Spangler M, Coetzee ML, Katyal SL, Morris HP, Ove P
Plain English This study looked at the differences between liver cells and liver cancer cells (specifically two types of Morris hepatomas) to understand their nuclei better. The researchers found that liver cancer cells had more sialic acid and higher levels of total phospholipids compared to normal liver cells. Notably, sphingomyelin, a type of phospholipid, was significantly increased in the cancer cell nuclei, which may have implications for how these cancer cells operate.
Who this helps: This research benefits doctors and researchers working on liver cancer treatments.