[Serine protease inhibitors prevent alcoholic liver injury].
The hepatotoxic effects of alcohol have been described in detail, but factors responsible for its hepatotoxicity have only partially characterized. It now appears that Kupffer cell derived TNF-alpha participates in several aspects of alcoholic liver injury. On the other hand, protease inhibitors have been used successfully for treatment of intractable diseases in which TNF-alpha is involved in the pathogenesis, including ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. Here, we will review new evidence for the proposal that serine protease inhibitors prevents alcoholic liver injury via mechanisms dependent on Kupffer cell derived TNF-alpha.
Enomoto
Nobuyuki
N
Department of Gastroenterology, School of Medicine, Juntendo University, 2-1-1, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan.
Takei
Yoshiyuki
Y
Kon
Kazuyoshi
K
Yamashina
Shunhei
S
Suzuki
Satoko
S
Ikejima
Kenichi
K
Sato
Nobuhiro
N
D000818:Animals; D007728:Kupffer Cells / Q000502:physiology; D008108:Liver Diseases, Alcoholic / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015842:Serine Proteinase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000502:physiology
D015842:Serine Proteinase Inhibitors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha