Abstract
Background/Aims
Natural killer T (NKT) cells are present in the liver of mice. We examined whether
NKT cells and other leukocytes were associated with hepatic inflammation after partial
hepatectomy.
Methods
Approximately 70% of the liver was removed from mice using the method described by
Higgins and Anderson.
Results
Partial hepatectomy induced the expansion of NKT cells in the liver and the elevation
of transaminase. These responses were completely suppressed by the administration
of tacrolimus. NKT cell-deficient mice showed a decreased level of transaminase after
partial hepatectomy. Perforin (−/−) mice showed an elevation of transaminase while
B6-gld/gld mice (Fas ligand−) showed a decreased elevation of transaminase. In TAP-1(−/−) mice which lacked CD8+ cytotoxic T cells, inflammation remained at a normal level after partial hepatectomy.
Since NKT cell-deficient mice showed up to 50% decrease in the level of inflammation,
we examined the association of other leukocytes with the remaining inflammation. The
number and proportion of granulocytes were increased by partial hepatectomy.
Conclusions
Both NKT cells and granulocytes participated in the hepatic inflammation after partial
hepatectomy. The function of NKT cells, but not of granulocytes, was found to be sensitive
to the immunosuppressive effect of tacrolimus.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
October 1,
2003
Received in revised form:
September 11,
2003
Received:
May 9,
2003
xIdentification
Copyright
© 2003 European Association for the Study of the Liver. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
