Effect of cytokines on liver necrosis.

AIM

To investigate the effect of cytokines on the liver necrosis.METHODS: rIL (interleukin)-1, rIL-6, rIFN (interferon), rTNF (tumor necrosis factor) -alpha 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 rTNF-alpha, rIL-6 or rIFN were used separately with D-GAL. The TBIL level (&mgr;mol/L)was 46.19 plus minus 10.62, 44.55 plus minus 12.9 and 41.94 plus minus 14.9, higher than that caused by D-GAL alone (TBIL, 26.67&mgr;mol/L plus minus 11.14&mgr;mol/L). The serum TBIL of mice and the degree of liver necrosis increased after injection of IL-1, IL-6 with D-GAL and rTNF-alpha.CONCLUSION: Cytokines, like IL-1, IL-6, IFN&agr and TNF-&agr;joined in the process of hepatocyte necrosis.They can enhance the degree of liver necrosis induced by D-GAL.