Abstract
Background: Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is an inflammatory liver disease that is characterized histologically by interface hepatitis, biochemically by elevated transaminase levels, and serologically by the presence of autoantibodies. Toll-like receptor (TLR)-4 is a TLR family member that, upon activation in hepatocytes, initiates a cascade of events. Interleukin-2 (IL-2) and tumour necrosis factor α (TNF-α) are potent inflammatory cytokines secreted in AIH, playing an important role in the early development of inflammation and hepatocyte damage.
Objectives: This study examined the role of cyclosporine in AIH and illustrated its actions on altered hepatic function in the silica-induced AIH model.
Methods: AIH was induced in Wistar rats using sodium silicate. The rats were divided into four groups: the control group, silica-AIH group, cyclosporine-treated group, and prevention group. TLR-4 and IL-2 mRNA expressions in liver tissues were tested by RTPCR.
Results: AIH was associated with up-regulation of liver enzymes, IL-2 and TLR-4 gene expression, while cyclosporine significantly down-regulated the expression of both. The relative quantity of TLR-4 mRNA was 1±0, 13.57±1.91, 4±0.38, and 2±0 in control, AIH, cyclosporine, and prevention groups, respectively (p<0.001). Also, the relative quantity of IL-2 mRNA was 1±0, 14.79±1.42, 7.07±0.96, and 3.4±0.55 in control, AIH, cyclosporine, and prevention groups, respectively (p<0.001). Additionally, immunohistochemical staining for TNF-α in liver sections was increased in the silica-AIH group but was found to decrease in the cyclosporine-treated and prevention groups.
Conclusion: This study advocates the therapeutic role of cyclosporine in treating immune-mediated hepatic diseases. Cyclosporine improves histological alterations in the liver and inhibits the production of proinflammatory cytokines.
Keywords: Autoimmune hepatitis, cyclosporine, interleukin 2, NFkB, TLR-4, TNF-a.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1566524013363672] [PMID: 11899084]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2019/9437043] [PMID: 31886312]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1053/jhep.2002.30991] [PMID: 11786954]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1517/14728221003642027] [PMID: 20146632]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-8684-7_3] [PMID: 29956204]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.4238/gmr.15027419] [PMID: 27420991]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/hep.24625] [PMID: 21898480]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.imlet.2016.01.008] [PMID: 26835593]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0087977] [PMID: 24498418]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1101/sqb.1999.64.573] [PMID: 11232334]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2249.2003.02094.x] [PMID: 12605693]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.4049/jimmunol.175.3.1540] [PMID: 16034092]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0961203308098192] [PMID: 19318393]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1010683817344] [PMID: 11414311]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0112384] [PMID: 25380300]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1101/pdb.ip47]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.2144/000112776] [PMID: 18474036]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.2119/molmed.2012.00306] [PMID: 23508573]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/gut.34.12.1705] [PMID: 8031350]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/002215540405200104] [PMID: 14688215]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/apt.12563] [PMID: 24261965]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0961203306069346] [PMID: 17153843]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.immuni.2011.03.019] [PMID: 21497116]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1254/jjp.77.261] [PMID: 9717775]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/cns.12546] [PMID: 27247192]
[PMID: 26531274]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jphs.2015.12.006] [PMID: 26823124]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/357692a0] [PMID: 1377361]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1006/clin.1996.0140] [PMID: 8811062]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/lt.23712] [PMID: 23894100]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.4049/jimmunol.179.7.4598] [PMID: 17878357]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1753425908100928] [PMID: 19318421]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12072-010-9196-0] [PMID: 21063489]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bpj.2015.06.048] [PMID: 26276688]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/modpathol.2011.197] [PMID: 22173288]
[PMID: 9681390]
[PMID: 23515466]