Abstract: The glyoxalase system catalyses the conversion of deleterious methylglyoxal(MG), mainly produced by glycolysis, to non-toxic d-lactate. Increased glyoxalase I(GLO1) expression or enzymatic activity levels have been observed either in proliferating normal tissues such as regenerating liver, or in some proliferative disorders, including hepatocellular carcinoma, which can improve the ability of liver to detoxify and stress reaction, and promote hepatocyte survival and proliferation, and protect liver cells from apoptosis.

Key words: liver regeneration, methylglyoxal, glyoxalase I, cell survival and proliferation