Expression of nitric oxide synthase in T-cell-dependent liver injury initiated by ConA in Kunming mice

Objective: To investigate whether nitric oxide synthase (NOS) is expressed in T-cell-dependent liver injury initiated by concanavalin A (ConA) in Kunming mice and study the possible effect of nitric oxide(NO) on liver injury models. Methods: Liver injury in Kunming mice was induced by administration of ConA through tail vein. Expression of NOS in the liver was detected by NADPH diaphorase staining method. The possible effect of NO on liver injury models was obtained by L-NAME injection to suppress synthesis of NO. Results: NOS has a strong expression in hepatocytes after ConA injection, especially in those close to the central vein, while only a weak expression was found in the epithelial cells in control group. Liver injury became more serious when NO synthesis was inhibited by L-NAME, accompanied by great malondialdehyde(MDA) increase in serum and severe intrahepatic vascular thrombosis. Conclusion: NOS markedly expressed in ConA-induced liver injury, which may subsequently promote nitric oxide synthesis. Increasement of nitric oxide has a protective effect on ConA-induced liver injury.