Immunohistochemical demonstration of interleukin-1 beta induced changes in acute-phase proteins and albumin in rat liver

Acta Histochem. 1995 Jul;97(3):281-9. doi: 10.1016/s0065-1281(11)80190-x.

Abstract

Interleukin-1 beta is a potent mediator of the acute-phase response. However, the effects of interleukin-1 beta administration on the topic in vivo production of acute-phase proteins and albumin are so far not well understood. Overnight fasted rats were subcutaneously injected with 0.2 mL 0.9% NaCl (control group) or 6.25 micrograms recombinant human interleukin-1 beta, and rectal temperature was measured at intervals up to 48 h. Livers were perfused-fixed in vivo prior to injection (base-line), and at 9, 24, and 48 h following the interleukin-1 beta injection. Fibrinogen, orosomucoid (alpha 1-acid glycoprotein) and albumin were immunostained using a streptavidin-biotin-immunoperoxidase technique. Rectal temperature peaked 5 h after the single interleukin-1 beta injection, and fell gradually to base-line values by 24 h. Prior to injection only a few hepatocytes, randomly scattered throughout the liver lobule, stained positive for fibrinogen and orosomucoid. In contrast, all hepatocytes stained uniformly positive for fibrinogen and orosomucoid 9 h after interleukin-1 beta injection, whereas at 24 h a predominant centrilobular staining pattern occurred. Due to fasting, albumin positive hepatocytes were already reduced at base-line in both groups. Interleukin-1 beta induced a further significant loss of albumin positive cells in the periportal zone (35 +/- 21%) at 9 h when compared with controls (58 +/- 11%, p = 0.037). In conclusion, subcutaneous interleukin-1 beta (probably by stimulation of interleukin-6) strongly induces fibrinogen and orosomucoid expression in rat liver, and suppresses immunohistochemically stainable albumin in a heterogenous way, mainly in the periportal zone.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acute-Phase Proteins / biosynthesis*
  • Albumins / analysis
  • Albumins / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Body Temperature / drug effects
  • Fibrinogen / analysis
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Interleukin-1 / pharmacology*
  • Liver / chemistry
  • Liver / drug effects*
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Male
  • Orosomucoid / analysis
  • Rats
  • Rats, Inbred Strains
  • Rectum
  • Staining and Labeling / methods

Substances

  • Acute-Phase Proteins
  • Albumins
  • Interleukin-1
  • Orosomucoid
  • Fibrinogen