Original Articles
Copyright ©The Author(s) 1998. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Aug 15, 1998; 4(4): 311-313
Published online Aug 15, 1998. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v4.i4.311
Effect of cytokines on liver necrosis
Yan-Yan Yu, Chong-Wen Si, Xiu-Lin Tian, Qun He, Hai-Peng Xue
Yan-Yan Yu, Chong-Wen Si, Xiu-Lin Tian, Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Teaching Hospital, Beijing Medical University, Beijing 100034, China
Qun He, Hai-Peng Xue, Department of Pathology, The First Teaching Hospital, Beijing Medical University, Beijing 100034, China
Yan-Yan Yu, female, born on 1962-12-14 in Lanzhou City, Gansu Province, China, graduated from Beijing Medical University as a Ph.D. in 1994, now associate professor of infectious diseases majoring infectious diseases, having two papers published.
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Dr. Yan-Yan Yu, Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Teaching Hospital, Beijing Medical University, Beijing 100034, China
Telephone: +86-10-66171122 ext 2362 Fax: +86-10-66176450
Received: May 18, 1998
Revised: June 20, 1998
Accepted: July 14, 1998
Published online: August 15, 1998
Abstract

AIM: To investigate the effect of cytokines on the liver necrosis.

METHODS: rIL (interleukin)-1, rIL-6, rIFN (interferon)γ, rTNF (tumor necrosis factor)α with or without D-galactosamine (D-GAL) were injected into the abdominal cavity of mice separately. ALT, TBIL (total bilirubin) and histological changes were observed.

RESULTS: There was no effect on hepatocyte of normal mice after injection of rIL-1, rIL-6, rIFN alone or together. The serum total bilirubin (TBIL) and liver necrosis of mice increased after rTNFα, rIL-6 or rIFNγ were used separately with D-GAL. The TBIL level (μmol/L)was 46.19 ± 10.62, 44.55 ± 12.9 and 41.94 ± 14.9, higher than that caused by D-GAL alone (TBIL, 26.67 μmol/L ± 11.14 μmol/L). The serum TBIL of mice and the degree of liver necrosis increased after injection of IL-1, IL-6 with D-GAL and rTNFα.

CONCLUSION: Cytokines, like IL-1, IL-6, IFNγ and TNFα joined in the process of hepatocyte necrosis. They can enhance the degree of liver necrosis induced by D-GAL.

Keywords: hepatitis; liver necrosis; tumor necrosis factor; interleukins; interferon