title: Effects of cytokines, bacterial endotoxin and hydrocortisone on primary hepatocyte cultures of rat and hamster.
abstract: In vivo an acute phase reaction is characterized by changes in hepatic protein metabolism and modification of liver drug enzymes (cytochrome P-450). In vitro, mediators of an acute phase reaction have been reported to have a similar effect. In the present study, the effects of bacterial endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide, LPS) and cytokines in hepatocyte cultures of rat and hamster were examined. In both species, a significant increase in secretion of specific acute phase protein was measured after 48 hr of exposure to IL-6, TNF-alpha or LPS. LPS and TNF-alpha increased the secretion of serum amyloid A (SAA) in hamster hepatocytes. LPS and IL-6 (but only in the presence of hydrocortisone) increased the secretion of alpha(2)-macroglobulin (alpha(2)M) in rat hepatocytes. An effect on the total concentration of cytochrome P-450 was not found in either species after exposure to glucocorticoids or to LPS and cytokines, although the latter compounds caused a marked increase in secretion of acute phase proteins.
authors: Department of Veterinary Pathology, University of Utrecht, PO Box 80158, 3508 TD, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors: M J
authors: MJ
authors: Toussaint
authors: T A
authors: TA
authors: Niewold
authors: M M
authors: MM
authors: de Wit