Background. Lazaroids are nonglucocorticoid analogs of methylprednisolone w
ith multiple actions. We investigated whether lazaroid U-74389G could atten
uate endotoxin-induced liver injury. We hypothesized that U-74389G treatmen
t may protect against hepatic injury by suppressing proinflammatory gene up
-regulation through inhibition of activation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-
kappa B). We also compared the efficacy of U-74389G with methylprednisolone
in endotoxin-induced liver injury.
Methods. Lipopolysaccharide (Escherichia coli, 30 mg/kg given intraperitone
ally) was administered to male ICR mice, and U-74389G (3 mg/kg intraperiton
eally) or methylprednisolone (30 mg/kg intravenously) was administered simu
ltaneously. Phosphate-buffered saline solution (0.15 mL intravenously) was
administered to mice that served as a control group.
Results. U-74389G and methylprednisolone treatment significantly increased
survival rates 48 hours after lipopolysaccharide injection and protected ag
ainst lipopolysaccharide-induced liver injury in vivo, as indicated by the
decreased hepatic lipid peroxidation, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and indu
cible nitric oxide synthase messenger RNA formation, hepatic enzyme release
, and neutrophil infiltration in the liver. U-74389G and methylprednisolone
also showed inhibitory effects of NF-kappa B activation in the liver.
Conclusions. These findings suggest that U-74389G can suppress proinflammat
ory gene up-regulation through inhibition of NF-kappa B activation and that
it is a promising new antioxidant drug for the treatment of endotoxin shoc
k.