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  • Title: Failure of the gut barrier system enhances liver injury in rats: protection of hepatocytes by gut-derived hepatocyte growth factor.
    Author: Choda Y, Morimoto Y, Miyaso H, Shinoura S, Saito S, Yagi T, Iwagaki H, Tanaka N.
    Journal: Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol; 2004 Oct; 16(10):1017-25. PubMed ID: 15371926.
    Abstract:
    OBJECTIVE: Clinical and experimental studies suggest that impairment of the mucosal barrier system increases gut-derived endotoxin in the portal blood, which causes liver injury. The aim of this study was to elucidate the mechanism of liver injury caused by gut defence failure. DESIGN: Wistar rats were administered either enteral lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or LPS via the portal vein. METHODS: Blood samples were collected via the inferior vena cava at necropsy. Serum aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) were analysed by standard enzymatic procedures and cytokines [tumour necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin (IL)-1beta, interferon-gamma, IL-6 and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)] were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Livers were removed and snap-frozen in liquid nitrogen. CD14, CD68, Toll-like receptor (TLR) 2, TLR4 and Fas ligand (FasL) were analysed immunohistochemically. Expression of TLR2, TLR4 and CD14 mRNA was determined by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: In enterally-treated rats, AST and ALT were not increased and cytokine levels were under the limits of detection in the absence of a rise in HGF. Enteral administration of LPS increased HGF dose-dependently. Injection of LPS in the portal vein resulted in significant increases in AST, ALT, tumour necrosis factor-alpha, IL-1beta, interferon-gamma and IL-6 levels, but no change in HGF levels. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that intraportal LPS administration increased CD14, TLR4, CD68 and FasL. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analysis demonstrated that TLR4 mRNA expression was upregulated 0.5 h after intraportal LPS administration. CONCLUSION: s Our data suggest that Kupffer cell activation mediated by intraportal LPS via TLR4 is involved in liver injury, possibly through both tumour necrosis factor-alpha/IL-1beta and FasL, and that lack of HGF activity in the impaired gut could not counteract liver injury.
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