Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: EC:2.6.1.2 (alanine aminotransferase)
 26,722 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Liver injury is a manifestation of the systemic inflammatory response during acute pancreatitis. We have demonstrated that elastase induces macrophage tumor necrosis factor (TNF) production in distant organs, thus mimicking pancreatitis-associated organ injury. The aim of this study was to determine the mechanism by which elastase induces hepatic cytokine production. Rat livers (n = 40) were perfused with elastase +/- gadolinium (Gd) to inhibit Kupffer cells. Liver parenchymal enzymes and TNF were measured in the effluent. In vitro, rat hepatocytes or Kupffer cells were treated with elastase (1 U/ml) +/- Gd (0.5 mg/ml) or pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC; 0.5 mg/ml). TNF protein, TNF messenger RNA, and NF-kappa B activation were determined. In vivo, Gd blunted the elastase-induced TNF production and decreased AST, ALT, LDH, and nonviable cells (propidium iodide) (P < or= 0.03 vs. elastase). In vitro, elastase induced TNF production from Kupffer cells (P < 0.001 vs. control) but not from hepatocytes. Gd or PDTC significantly attenuated the elastase-induced TNF production (P < 0.001). Elastase-induced overexpression of TNF messengerRNA and activation of NF-kappa B was attenuated by Gd. Pancreatic elastase induces a pattern of liver injury similar to that seen during acute pancreatitis by activating cytokine production and gene expression within Kupffer cells via NF-kappa B. Gd exhibits a protective effect against elastase-induced liver injury by inhibiting activation of NF-kappa B.
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PMID:Pancreatic elastase induces liver injury by activating cytokine production within Kupffer cells via nuclear factor-Kappa B. 1202 2

Liver injury is an important prognostic indicator during acute pancreatitis. The aim of this study was to determine the role of Fas ligand (FasL) in hepatocyte injury. Liver parenchymal enzymes were measured in cocultures of hepatocytes and Kupffer cells treated with elastase. FasL and FasL mRNA were measured in elastase-treated Kupffer cells. Hepatocytes were treated with FasL and their viability was assessed by monotetrazolium (MTT), apoptosis by flow cytometry, as well as caspase-3 and p38-mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) by immunoblotting. Elastase increased aspartate aminotransferase and lactate dehydrogenase in cocultures of hepatocyte and Kupffer cells (P<0.040). Elastase increased FasL production from Kupffer cells (P=0.02) and upregulated FasL mRNA (FasL/beta-2 microglobulin (BMG): 0.23+/-0.03 vs. 0.11+/-0.003; P=0.04). FasL increased alanine aminotransferase and lactate dehydrogenase (P<0.03) and reduced hepatocyte viability by 45% (P=0.01). FasL increased the number of dually labeled cells with AnnexinV/7AAD (P=0.03) while upregulating cleavage of caspase-3 and the phosphorylation of p38-MAPK. FasL antibody attenuated the FasL-related increase in dually labeled cells (P=0.02), the cleavage of caspase-3, and phosphorylation of p38-MAPK. Pancreatic elastase upregulates FasL within Kupffer cells. FasL induces hepatocyte injury and death and upregulates p38-MAPK and caspase-3 within hepatocytes. The ability to manipulate interactions between Kupffer cells and hepatocytes may have important therapeutic implications.
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PMID:Kupffer cell-derived Fas ligand plays a role in liver injury and hepatocyte death. 1503 92