Objective: To investigate the effect of cytokines on liver necrosis.
Methods: We injected IL-1, IL-6, IFN gamma, TNF alpha with or without D-galactosamine (D-GAL) into the abdominal cavity of mice separately.
Results: There was no effect on hepatocyte of normal mice after injection of IL-1, IL-6, IFN gamma alone or together. The serum total bilirubin (TBIL) and liver necrosis of mice increased more markedly by using of TNF alpha, IL-6 or IFN gamma separately with D-GAL (TBIL: 46.2 +/- 10.6 micromol/L, 44.6 +/- 12.9 micromol/L, 41.9 +/- 14.9 micromol/L), then by D-GAL alone (TBIL: 27 +/- 11 micromol/L) also the serum TBIL of mice and liver necrosis also increased after injection of IL-1, IL-6 with D-GAL and TNF alpha.
Conclusion: Cytokines like IL-1, IL-6, IFN gamma and TNF alpha joined the process of hepatocyte necrosis. They can enhance the degree of liver necrosis induced by D-GAL.