Increased release of KC/gro protein, intercrine cytokine family, from hepatocytes of the chronically ethanol fed rats.

In an attempt to clarify the mechanisms of neutrophil-accumulation in the liver of alcoholics, release of KC/gro protein (intercrine cytokine family) from hepatocytes in the chronically ethanol fed rats was examined. Chemotactic activity for rat neutrophils was demonstrated in the culture supernatant of hepatocytes isolated from the ethanol fed rats, which was then inhibited in the presence of antibody against rat KC/gro protein. Immunoblot analysis revealed that the peptide reacted with antiserum against KC/gro protein was demonstrated at a molecular weight of 20-23kDa, and an amount of KC/gro protein released from the hepatocytes of the chronically ethanol fed rats was increased, as compared with that of the control rats.