R. Faggioni et al., Leptin-deficient (ob/ob) mice are protected from T cell-mediated hepatotoxicity: Role of tumor necrosis factor alpha and IL-18, P NAS US, 97(5), 2000, pp. 2367-2372
Citations number
47
Categorie Soggetti
Multidisciplinary
Journal title
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
The role of leptin was investigated in two models of T cell-mediated hepati
tis: the administration of Con A or of Pseudomonas aeroginosa exotoxin A (P
EA). In both models, leptin-deficient (ob/ob) mice were protected from live
r damage and showed lower induction of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha an
d IL-18 compared with their lean littermates. Neutralization of TNF-alpha r
educed induction of IL-18 by either Con A (70% reduction) or PEA (40% reduc
tion). Pretreatment of lean mice with either soluble TNF receptors or with
an anti-IL-18 antiserum significantly reduced Con A- and PEA-induced liver
damage. The simultaneous neutralization of TNF-alpha and IL-18 fully protec
ted the mice against liver toxicity. However, neutralization of either IL-1
8 or TNF-alpha did not inhibit Con A-induced production of IFN-gamma. Thymu
s atrophy and alterations in the number of circulating lymphocytes and mono
cytes were observed in ob/ob mice. Exogenous leptin replacement restored th
e responsiveness of ob/ob mice to Con A and normalized their lymphocyte and
monocyte populations. These results demonstrate that leptin deficiency lea
ds to reduced production of TNF-alpha and IL-18 associated with reduced T c
ell-mediated hepatotoxicity. In addition, both TNF-alpha and IL-18 appear t
o be essential mediators of T cell-mediated liver injury.