[The protective role of adiponectin in Con A-induced mouse liver injury].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the role of adiponectin in regulating tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) production and preventing fulminant autoimmunological damage of hepatocytes following concanavalin A (Con A) injection into mice.


METHODS
Three days after recombinant plasmids pAA-neo-mAd were injected into the mice via the tail veins, Con A was injected into the mice. Mice transfected with empty pAA-neo vector served as controls. The serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), TNF alpha and adiponectin were detected, and histological examination of livers was carried out at different time points after the Con A injection. All results were subjected to statistical analyses.


RESULTS
Histological examinations showed that the damage in livers of mice with high serum adiponectin levels was milder than that of the controls. The serum levels of ALT and TNF alpha were both lower than those of the controls (P less than 0.01, respectively). Statistical analyses showed the serum levels of ALT was negatively related to the levels of adiponectin in the sera (r=-0.5034).


CONCLUSIONS
Adiponectin is effective in protecting hepatocytes from Con A-induced immunological injury. The mechanism of this protective effect may be caused by inhibiting the synthesis and/or release of TNF alpha.
Wang
Hui-zhong
HZ
Geriatrics Center, PLA 305 Hospital, Beijing 100017, China. wanghz410@yahoo.com.cn
Lin
Hu
H
Gao
De-lu
DL
Zhan
Lin-sheng
LS
Wang
Quan-li
QL
D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D007154:Immune System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood
D052242:Adiponectin; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D003208:Concanavalin A; D000410:Alanine Transaminase