ROLE OF ENDOTOXIN IN LIVER-INJURY

Systemic endotoxemia and its relation to the fibrotic process were stu died in two forms of hepatic disorders in experimental animals. The fi rst was bilharzial liver disease, and the second was CCl4-induced cirr hosis. Endotoxin results were correlated with total hepatic collagen a nd tissue fibronectin, which are two indices of the fibrotic process. In schistosome-infested hamsters, early significant progressive elevat ion of plasma endotoxin was detected 6 weeks post-infestation and was correlated with significantly elevated total hepatic collagen and tiss ue fibronectin. In rats with CCl4-induced cirrhosis, significant rise in plasma endotoxin, total hepatic collagen, and tissue fibronectin wa s observed at the 10th week after injections. We noticed that removal of intestinal endotoxins by neomycin administration, induction of endo toxin tolerance, or enhancement of macrophage functions by interferon (IFN) injections resulted in significant lower levels of systemic endo toxemia and fibrogenesis in both rats and hamsters.