title: [Effects of leflunomide on immunological liver injury].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the effect of leflunomide (Lef) on immunological liver injury in mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Immunological liver injury was induced by tail vein injection of BCG + LPS (BCG 2.5 mg, 1 d, LPS 10 micrograms, 10 d). The ALT, AST, NO level in plasma and MDA, GSHpx in liver homogenate were assayed by spectroscopy. The serum content of TNF-alpha was determined by ELISA. IL-1, IL-2 and ConA-induced splenocyte proliferation response were determined by methods of 3H-infiltrated cell proliferation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Immunological liver injury induced by BCG + LPS was successfully duplicated. Lef (4, 12, 36 mg.kg-1) was found to significantly decrease the serum transaminase (ALT, AST) activity and MDA content in liver homogenate, and improved reduced GSHpx level of liver homogenate. Furthermore, Lef (4, 12, 36 mg.kg-1) significantly reduced TNF-alpha and NO level in serum, and IL-1 production by PM psi. Moreover, the decreased IL-2 production and ConA-induced splenocyte proliferation response were further inhibited.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lef showed significant protective action on immunological liver injury in mice.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China.
authors.forename: H W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Y F
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: C Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: S Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007555:Isoxazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077339:Leflunomide; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000633:toxicity; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000097:blood; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D007375:Interleukin-1; D007555:Isoxazoles; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D000077339:Leflunomide