Toshihiro Okamoto (1), Yoshihisa Nakano (1), Tomio Yamakawa (1), Kaoru
Hara (1), Ken-Ichi Yamamura (2) and Okio Hino (3)
(1) Research Laboratories, Nippon Chemiphar Co., Ltd., Saitama 341- 0005,
Japan
(2) Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics, Kumamoto University
School of Medicine, Kumamoto 862-0976, Japan
(3) Department of Experimental Pathology, Cancer Institute, Tokyo 170-8455,
Japan
Abstract: Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) transgenic mice strongly
express IFN-gamma in the liver and develop chronic hepatitis. Furthermore,
hepatocyte apoptosis was shown by the TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick endlabeling
method. In the present study, interleukin-1beta-converting enzyme (ICE)
and CPP32-like protease activities in the liver of IFN-gamma transgenic
mice were measured, using the synthetic substrates Ac-YVAD-MCA and Ac-DEVD-MCA.
Plasma aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase activities
as well as CPP32-like activity were significantly elevated, while ICE activity
was significantly reduced. The addition of the ICE inhibitor Ac-YVAD-CHO
to IFN-gamma transgenic mouse liver cell cytosol had no effect on the CPP32
activity, in contrast to a CPP32 inhibitor. The present results indicate
that chronic hepatitis in the IFN-gamma transgenic mouse is associated with
a decrease in ICE and induction of CPP32-like activity.
Keywords: Transgenic mouse, Liver, Chronic hepatitis, Interleukin-1beta-converting
enzyme, CPP32