Toshihiro Okamoto (1), Yoshihisa Nakano (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 administration of concanavalin A (Con A) (0.2 mg/mouse)
into mice induced significant elevation of plasma alanine aminotransferase
(ALT) at 8.5 hr after Con A treatment. CD8 mRNA, which is a marker of cytotoxic
T-cell, was strongly induced at 16 and 24 hr after Con A treatment. Although
pretreatment with cyclosporine A (CsA) (50 and 100 mg/kg, i.p.) inhibited
Con A-induced elevation of plasma ALT, it did not inhibit Con A-induced
CD8 mRNA expression. Morphological study revealed lymphoid cell infiltration
in the liver, but the lymphoid cells were not present at the site of hepatocyte
necrosis. These results suggest that Con A-induced CD8+ T-cell
infiltration has a minimal effect in the development of hepatitis.
Keywords: Concanavalin A, CD8, Liver