title: Effect of alpha-interferon on erythrocyte and hepatocyte plasma membranes derived from cirrhotic rats.
abstract: Interferons are recognized to inhibit collagen production. Since fibrosis has been associated with liver dysfunction, we investigated the effects of alpha-interferon on the function and lipid composition of hepatocyte and erythrocyte plasma membranes derived from CCl4-cirrhotic male Wistar rats. In both cell types, CCl4 decreased Na+/K+ and Ca(2+)-ATPase activity and increased the cholesterol to phospholipids (CH/PL) ratio (p < 0.05). Administration of interferon (80,000 IU/kg s.c. for 8 weeks) increased survival from 40 to 90%, and preserved normal ATPase activity and CH/PL ratio. Our results show that administration of alpha-interferon to CCl4-cirrhotic rats improves survival, and liver and erythrocyte membrane function and composition, probably as a result of its antifibrogenic effect.
authors.affiliation: Departmento de Farmacologia y Toxicologia, Instituto Politecnico Nacional, México, D.F., México.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Muriel
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bolaños
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Barral
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Torres
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000252:Calcium-Transporting ATPases / Q000378:metabolism; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000378:metabolism*; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008106:Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016898:Interferon-alpha; D010743:Phospholipids; D002784:Cholesterol; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride; D000252:Calcium-Transporting ATPases; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase