Effect of gomisin A in an immunologically-induced acute hepatic failure model.

Guinea pigs were sensitized with trinitrophenylated liver macromolecular protein fraction (TNP-LP1) prepared by using sodium trinitrobenzenesulfonate of strong immunogenicity as the hapten and LP1 as the carrier protein. The administration of trinitrophenylated hepatocytes and lipopolysaccharide to these TNP-LP1-sensitized guinea pigs through the mesenteric vein 2 weeks later resulted in the induction of acute hepatic failure accompanied by massive hepatic cell necrosis in almost all of the guinea pigs. Using this experimental model, the effect of Gomisin A on the induction of immunological acute hepatic failure was examined. As a result, the administration of gomisin A remarkably improved the survival rate and serum transaminase levels of the immunologically-induced acute hepatic failure guinea pigs. Gomisin A also improved the histological changes of the liver in these guinea pigs. These results suggested that gomisin A is effective for the improvement of immunologically-induced acute hepatic failure in our experimental model.