T. Fujioka et al., Effect of methylprednisolone on the kinetics of cytokines and liver function of regenerating liver in rats, HEPATOL RES, 19(1), 2001, pp. 60-73
The participation of cytokines in the early stage mechanism of hepatocyte p
roliferation has already attracted attention. We investigated the effect of
methylprednisolone (MDS). which inhibits the inflammatory response, given
before and after a 70% partial hepatectomy in rats on the kinetics of tumor
necrosis factor-alpha and Interleukin-6, liver cell function and the rate
of liver regeneration. Serum Interleukin-6 levels of the MDS groups were si
gnificantly lower than those of the control group. Serum alanine aminotrans
ferase, aspartate aminotransferase and hyaluronic acid levels were also sig
nificantly decreased, however, the serum albumin level showed high values i
n the MDS groups. In the MDS groups, MIB-5 labeling indices, a novel antibo
dy reactive with the equivalent Ki-67 protein, which detects immunohistoche
mically all active parts of the cell cycle in the rat liver, were more pron
ounced than in the control group at an earlier time. However, in regard to
5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BrdU), there were no significant differences among
the three groups. There were no differences in residual liver weight/body w
eight between the three groups after 336 h. In our study, MDS administratio
n before or after a 70% partial hepatectomy decreased serum Interleukin-6 l
evels, and inhibited hepatic dysfunction. Therefore, we considered that ben
eficial effects of physiological doses of MDS in the peri-operative period
should be confirmed in humans. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All r
ights reserved.