Jpn. J. Pharmacol. 78 (1), 101-103 (1998)


Effect of Gadolinium Chloride Treatment on Concanavalin A-Induced Cytokine mRNA Expression in Mouse Liver

Toshihiro Okamoto (1), Osamu Maeda (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 effect of Kupffer cell depression on concanavalin A (Con A)-induced cytokine mRNA expression in the liver was studied. Gadolinium chloride (GdCl3) is a commonly used Kupffer cell inhibitor. GdCl3 (40 mg/kg, i.p.) was injected into each mouse, and 24 hr later, Con A (0.2 mg/mouse) was administered. Plasma was obtained at 24 hr after Con A treatment for alanine aminotransferase (ALT) measurement. GdCl3 treatment inhibited Con A-induced elevation of ALT. However, it did not inhibit Con A-induced interleukin-2 or tumor necrosis factor- alpha mRNA expression. The present results suggest that Kupffer cells are not responsible for Con A-induced cytokine expression in the liver.

Keywords: Concanavalin A, Gadolinium chloride, Cytokine


Copyright© The Japanese Pharmacological Society 1998

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