Effect of cytokines on liver necrosis

AIM To investigate the effect of cytokines on the liver necrosis.METHODS rIL (interleukin)-1, rIL-6, rIFN (interferon), rTNF (tumor necrosis factor) α with or without D-galactosamine (D-GAL) were injected into the abdominal cavity of mice separately. ALT, TBIL (total bilirubin) and histological changes were observed.RESULTS There was no effect on hepatocyte of normal mice after injection of rIL-1, rIL-6, rIFN alone or together. The serum total bilirubin (TBIL) and liver necrosis of mice increased after rTNFα, rIL-6 or rIFN were used separately with D-GAL. The TBIL level (μmol/L) was 46.19±10.62, 44.55±12.9 and 41.94±14.9, higher than that caused by D-GAL alone (TBIL, 26.67μmol/L±11.14μmol/L). The serum TBIL of mice and the degree of liver necrosis increased after injection of IL-1, IL-6 with D-GAL and rTNFα.CONCLUSION Cytokines, like IL-1,IL-6, IFN and TNFα joined in the process of hepatocyte necrosis. They can enhance the degree of liver necrosis induced by D-GAL.