title: Enhanced tumor necrosis factor alpha in coronavirus but not in paracetamol-induced acute hepatic necrosis in mice.
abstract: Previous reports have demonstrated that tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of fulminant hepatic necrosis. The purpose of this experimental study was to measure TNF-alpha blood activity in paracetamol-induced liver necrosis and in coronavirus (MHV3)-induced fulminant hepatitis in mice. No elevation of TNF-alpha activity was found in hepatic failure complicating paracetamol poisoning. In contrast, TNF-alpha activity significantly increased in response to MHV3, reaching 16.3 +/- 5.5 U/ml from 24 h post infection (P less than 0.01). This augmentation was observed even though the virus was not detectable in the liver. Serum alanine aminotransferase levels were low and no histological lesion was observed. In conclusion, our study further supports the implication of TNF-alpha in virus-induced hepatitis failure and confirms that paracetamol poisoning does not cause increased TNF-alpha activity in the circulation.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neurovirology and Pediatric Hepatology, INSERM U 56, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Devictor
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Decimo
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sebire
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tardieu
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hadchouel
mesh_terms: D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000097:blood*; D003333:Coronaviridae Infections / Q000097:blood*; D006501:Hepatic Encephalopathy / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D006524:Hepatitis, Viral, Animal / Q000097:blood*; D051379:Mice; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000082:Acetaminophen; D000410:Alanine Transaminase