Tsukasa Shimazawa

The role of thromboxane A2 [TxA2] in liver injury in mice

The role of thromboxane A2 (TxA2) in CCl4-induced liver disease was investigated in mice. Significant elevation of TxB2 in the liver was observed 6 hours after the injection of CCl4. Administration of OKY-046, a selective TxA2 synthetase inhibitor (10 and 50 mg/kg) and ONO-3708, a TxA2 receptor antagonist, (0.5, 1 and 2 mg/Kg) suppressed the elevation of serum GOT and GPT levels and histopathological changes of the liver. In addition, OKY-046 inhibited the elevation of TxB2 in the liver. When U-46619, a stable TxA2 mimetic was injected i.v. into the mice, clear elevation of serum GOT and GPT levels and histopathological score of the liver were observed. These results suggest that TxA2 play a role for the onset of CCl4-induced liver injury in mice.

Participation of Collagenase and Elastase in LPS-Induced Airway Hyperresponsiveness in Guinea Pigs.

Bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) cause airway hyperreactivity in guinea pigs pretreated with metopirone. LPS inhalation resulted in an increase in airway muscarinic reactivity measured by intravenous acetylcholine injection 1–4 h after the inhalation of LPS. The increase of pulmonary capillary permeability was observed 1–24 h after the inhalation of LPS, whereas the increase of leukocytes in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was observed 2 and 24 h after the inhalation of LPS. Increased cells are mainly neutrophil, eosinophil, and macrophage. From the histopathological study, acute mucosal injury and loss of epithelial cilia were observed 1–24 h after the inhalation of LPS. In order to investigate the phlogistic substance in LPS-induced hypereactivity, the roles of collagenase and elastase were investigated. The activities of both enzymes were elevated 2 h after the inhalation of LPS. The inhalation of collagenase and elastase caused bronchial hyperreactivity and increased pulmonary permeability. The combined administration of prednisolone (10 mg/kg/day) and cyclephosphamide (10 mg/kg/day) for five days decreased LPS-induced hyperreactivity, pulmonary capillary increase, collagenase and elastase activities, and the number of nucleated cells in BALF 2 h after the inhalation of LPS. These results indicate the participation of collagenase and elastase in the onset of LPS-induced airway hyperreactivity in guinea pigs.

Role of peptide-leukotrienes in liver injury in mice.

The role of peptide leukotrienes (p-LTs), especially LTC4 and LTD4 in liver disease, was investigated in mice experimental liver injury models. The liver injury was induced by the injection of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) intoCorynebacterium parvum pretreated mice. Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver injury in mice was used as a standard model. In both injury models, extensive liver parenchymal cell damage was observed by the elevation of glutamate transaminase (GOT and GPT) activity and confirmed by significant histopathological changes in the liver. Moreover, significant elevation of LTC4 in the liver was observed in both models 1 and 6 h after the onset of disease. Administration of AA-861, a selective 5-lipoxy-genase inhibitor (0.5, 1, and 2 mg/kg) and LY-171883, a p-LT receptor antagonist (50 and 200 mg/kg) suppressed the elevation of serum GOT and GPT levels and histopathological changes in both experimental liver injury models. In addition, when authentic LTC4 or LTD4 was injected into the mouse, clear elevation of serum GOT and GPT and histopathological changes of the liver were observed. These results suggest that p-LTs play a role in the onset of liver diseases in mice.

The effects of thromboxane A2 inhibitors (OKY-046 and ONO-3708) and leukotriene inhibitors (AA-861 and LY-171883) on CCl4-induced chronic liver injury in mice.

The effects of OKY-046, a selective thromboxane A2 (TxA2) synthetase inhibitor, ONO-3708, a novel TxA2 receptor antagonist, AA-861, a selective 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor and LY-171883, a peptide leukotrienes (p-LTs) receptor antagonist on the chronic liver injury were investigated in mice. The chronic liver injury was induced by the injection of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) two times a week for twelve weeks in mice. In chronic liver injury models, significant histopathological changes in the liver and extensive elevation of glutamate transaminase (GOT and GPT) activity were observed. Administration of OKY-046, ONO-3708, AA-861 and LY-171883 for 12 weeks suppressed the elevation of serum GOT and GPT levels and histopathological changes in CCl4-induced chronic liver injury. These results suggest that TxA2 and LTs inhibitors are effective for the onset and development of chronic liver injury in mice.