title: Valpha14 NKT cells activated by alpha-galactosylceramide augment lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide production in mouse intra-hepatic lymphocytes.
abstract: Valpha14 natural killer T (Valpha14 NKT) cells activated by alpha-galactosylceramide (alpha-GalCer) secrete a large amount of Th1 and Th2 cytokines. IFN-gamma plays a crucial role in the inflammation response, and is also known as an activator of nitric oxide (NO) production. We previously reported that lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced NO production is augmented by alpha-GalCer in mouse peritoneal cells. Since the liver is susceptible to LPS stimulation via the portal vein, we examined the effect of alpha-GalCer on LPS-induced NO production in murine intra-hepatic lymphocytes (IHLs). Although IHLs augmented LPS-induced NO production by alpha-GalCer administration, such an augmentation was not observed in non-treated mice. Furthermore, alpha-GalCer did not augment LPS-induced NO production in IHLs from IFN-gamma knockout mice. In flow cytometry analysis of IHLs from alpha-GalCer-treated mice, the ratio and number of F4/80- and TLR4-positive cells rose as compared with non-treated mice. The liver injury may be induced by LPS and NO under the condition where Valpha14 NKT cells were activated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Informative Clinical Medicine, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Yanagido, Gifu 501-1194, Japan.
authors.forename: Hirofumi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ohtaki
authors.forename: Hiroyasu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: Kazuki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ando
authors.forename: Tetsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ishikawa
authors.forename: Kuniaki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: Michio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Imawari
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yokochi
authors.forename: Hisataka
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Moriwaki
authors.forename: Mitsuru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Seishima
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D005699:Galactosylceramides / Q000276:immunology*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000235:genetics; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000276:immunology; D008099:Liver / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D055611:Natural Killer T-Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000235:genetics; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4 / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D005699:Galactosylceramides; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; C493487:Tlr4 protein, mouse; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4; C493154:alpha-galactosylceramide; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; C496317:Nos2 protein, mouse