Superoxide and nitric oxide production by Kupffer cells in rats with obstructive jaundice: effect of internal and external drainage.
OBJECTIVE
The role of Kupffer cells in obstructive jaundice (OJ) has not been fully understood. The aims of the present study were to measure superoxide and nitric oxide (NO) production by Kupffer cells in experimental OJ in rats and to investigate the response to internal and external biliary drainage.


METHODS
Eighty male Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to four groups: sham operation, OJ, and internal and external biliary drainage. Kupffer cells were isolated on day 7 in the sham operation and OJ group, and on day 7 after drainage procedures. Cells were cultured with or without lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Superoxide production was quantified in cultured Kupffer cells at 2 h and 48 h, respectively, after cell isolation using the superoxide dismutase inhibitable ferricytochrome c reduction method. Nitrite production in cell culture supernatants was measured 48 h later using Greiss reagents.


RESULTS
Without LPS stimulation, Kupffer cells produced comparable superoxide and nitrite in each group (P > 0.05). With LPS stimulation, Kupffer cells in the OJ group produced significantly higher superoxide anions than the other groups (P = 0.006). Nitrite production was significantly increased in the OJ group and external biliary drainage group compared to rats in the sham operation and internal drainage groups (P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Kupffer cells from rats with OJ produce great amounts of endotoxin-mediated oxidants. Both internal and external biliary drainage can decrease the elevated superoxide production. Internal drainage is superior to external drainage for reversing the distortional capacity of NO production by Kupffer cells.
Li
Wen
W
Department of Gastroenterology, The General Hospital of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, Beijing, China.
Chan
Angus C W
AC
Lau
James Y W
JY
Lee
Danny W H
DW
Ng
Enders K W
EK
Sung
Joseph J Y
JJ
Chung
S C Sydney
SC
D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004322:Drainage / Q000379:methods; D041781:Jaundice, Obstructive / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000628:therapy; D007728:Kupffer Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D009573:Nitrites / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013481:Superoxides / Q000378:metabolism*
D009573:Nitrites; D013481:Superoxides; D009569:Nitric Oxide