Astilbin selectively induces dysfunction of liver-infiltrating cells - novel protection from liver damage

The present study aimed to examine the effect of astilbin, a flavanoid, on liver injury. When administered during the effector but not induction phase , astilbin significantly decreased the liver injury induced by delayed-type hypersensitivity to picryl chloride in mice. The pretreatment of nonparenc hymal cells but not hepatocytes with astilbin in vitro caused a concentrati on- and time-dependent inhibition against the damage. Nonparenchymal cells isolated from astilbin-administered mice also showed a significant incompet ence of hepatotoxicity, correlated with the inhibition of serum transaminas e elevation. However, astilbin did not protect from CCl4-induced liver dama ge. Furthermore, the flavanoid markedly promoted the apoptosis of nonparenc hymal cells from liver-injured mice, whereas did not influence those from n aive mice. These results suggest that astilbin provides improvement against liver injury through a selective dysfunction of liver-infiltrating cells r ather than by protecting the hepatocyte membrane. Such characteristics will be of significance to pave a new way for treating immunologically related liver diseases and for developing new drugs. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.