title: Activated Kupffer cells play an important role in intra-hepatic Th1-associated necro-inflammation in Concanavalin A-induced hepatic injury in mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND/AIMS: To examine whether or not activated Kupffer cells play an important role in intra-hepatic Th1-associated necro-inflammation in Concanavalin A (Con A)-induced hepatic injury in mice. METHODS: Con A was administered to Balb/c mice pretreated with or without gadolinium chloride (GdCl(3)). Kupffer cell activation was evaluated by their ability to produce superoxide anions in situ under liver perfusion with nitro blue tetrazolium (NBT). Hepatic concentration of cytokines was measured by ELISA and the mRNA expression of CXC chemokine receptor 3 (CXCR3) was evaluated by RT-PCR. Immunohistochemical detection of CD4 positive lymphocytes in the liver was also performed. RESULTS: GdCl(3)-pretreatment significantly (P<0.01) reduced the serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in Con A-treated mice. Formazan deposition in Kupffer cells, the hepatic concentration of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interferon-gamma, the mRNA expression of CXCR3 and the CD4 positive lymphocytes in the liver were decreased in GdCl(3)-pretreated mice as compared with those without GdCl(3)-pretreatment (P<0.05, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Activated Kupffer cells, which produce superoxide anions, are involved in Con A-induced hepatic necro-inflammation in mice possibly through the activation of Th1-associated immune response mediated by CD4 and/or CXCR3 positive cells recruited into the liver.
authors.affiliation: Third Department of Internal Medicine, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, 602-8566, Kyoto, Japan
authors.forename: Atsuhiro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Morita
authors.forename: Yoshito
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Itoh
authors.forename: Tetsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Toyama
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fujii
authors.forename: Kenichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nishioji
authors.forename: Toshihiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kirishima
authors.forename: Akiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Makiyama
authors.forename: Norihito
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yamauchi
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Okanoue