I. Bauer et al., Transcriptional activation of heme oxygenase-1 and its functional significance in acetaminophen-induced hepatitis and hepatocellular injury in the rat, J HEPATOL, 33(3), 2000, pp. 395-406
Background/Aim: Glutathione depletion contributes to acetaminophen hepatoto
xicity and is known to induce the oxidative stress reactant heme oxygenase-
1, The metabolites of the heme oxygenase pathway, biliverdin, carbon monoxi
de, and iron may modulate acetaminophen toxicity, The aim of this study was
to assess cell-type specific expression of heme oxygenase-l and its impact
on liver injury and microcirculatory disturbances in a model of acetaminop
hen-induced hepatitis.
Methods: Gene expression of heme oxygenase-l was studied by Northern- and W
estern analysis as well as immunohistochemistry. The time course of heme ox
ygenase-l and -2, cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant-l, and interc
ellular adhesion molecule-1 was studied by Northern analysis, DNA-binding a
ctivity of nuclear factor-kappa B was determined by electrophoretic mobilit
y shift assay. Sinusoidal perfusion and leukocyte-endothelia; interactions
were assessed by intravital microscopy,
Results: Acetaminophen caused a moderate sinusoidal perfusion failure (-15%
) and infiltration of neutrophils along with activation of nuclear factor-k
appa B and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and cytokine-induced neutrophi
l chemoattractant-1 mRNAs, Induction of heme oxygenase-1 mRNA and protein (
similar to 30fold) in hepatocytes and non-parenchymal cells paralleled the
inflammatory response. Blockade of heme oxygenase activity with tin-proeopo
rphyrin-IX abrogated acetaminophen-induced hepatic neutrophil accumulation
and nuclear factor-kappa B activation, but failed to affect sinusoidal perf
usion and liver injury,
Conclusions: The inflammatory response associated with acetaminophen hepato
toxicity is modulated by the parallel induction of the heme oxygenase-l gen
e. However, heme oxygenase-l has no permissive effect on sinusoidal perfusi
on and does not affect liver injury in this model. These data argue against
a central role of nuclear factor-kappa B activation and neutrophil infiltr
ation as perpetuating factors of liver injury in acetaminophen toxicity.