Jpn. J. Pharmacol. 77 (3), 219-225 (1998)


Expression of Cytokine mRNA in Extrahepatic Organs in a Mouse Concanavalin A-Hepatitis Model

Toshihiro Okamoto (1), Yoshihisa Nakano (1), Wataru Asakura (1), Tadashi Kobayashi (1), Naoki Tsuzuike (2) and Kaoru Hara (1)



(1) Research Laboratories, Nippon Chemiphar Co., Ltd., 1-22 Hikokawato, Misato, Saitama 341-0005, Japan
(2) Zeria Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., 2512-1 Konan-Machi, Ohsato-gun, Saitama 360-0111, Japan


Abstract: The liver injury in the concanavalin A (Con A)-induced mouse hepatitis model has been well studied. However, there has been little study on the effects of Con A on extrahepatic organs. The aim of the present work was to determine the effects of Con A on the spleen, kidney and lung. A histopathological study showed that Con A (15 mg/kg, i.v.) administration affects not only the liver, but also all these extrahepatic organs. Messenger RNA expression was studied by the using polymerase chain reaction. Treatment with Con A induced interleukin-2 mRNA in the spleen, but only slightly induced it in the kidney. The mRNAs of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) were induced in all these organs. At 24 hr after Con A treatment, the expression of IFN-gamma mRNA, but not that of TNF-alpha mRNA, was inhibited by cyclosporine A (50 mg/kg, i.p.), suggesting that Con A induced these cytokine mRNAs through different mechanisms. In the kidney and lung, CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell infiltration was suggested by the Con A-induced CD4 and CD8 mRNAs. The present study showed the histopathological effects of Con A and Con A-induced cytokine mRNA expression on the spleen, kidney and lung.


Keywords: Concanavalin A, Cytokine mRNA, Extrahepatic organ, Hepatitis, Polymerase chain reaction


Copyright© The Japanese Pharmacological Society 1998

[Back to TOC]