Role of the sympathetic nervous system in carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity and systemic inflammation

PLoS One. 2015 Mar 23;10(3):e0121365. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0121365. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) is widely used as an animal model of hepatotoxicity and the mechanisms have been arduously studied, however, the contribution of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) in CCl4-induced acute hepatotoxicity remains controversial. It is also known that either CCl4 or SNS can affect systemic inflammatory responses. The aim of this study was to establish the effect of chemical sympathectomy with 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) in a mouse model of CCl4-induced acute hepatotoxicity and systemic inflammatory response. Mice exposed to CCl4 or vehicle were pretreated with 6-OHDA or saline. The serum levels of aminotransferases and alkaline phosphatase in the CCl4-poisoning mice with sympathetic denervation were significantly lower than those without sympathetic denervation. With sympathetic denervation, hepatocellular necrosis and fat infiltration induced by CCl4 were greatly decreased. Sympathetic denervation significantly attenuated CCl4-induced lipid peroxidation in liver and serum. Acute CCl4 intoxication showed increased expression of inflammatory cytokines/chemokines [eotaxin-2/CCL24, Fas ligand, interleukin (IL)-1α, IL-6, IL-12p40p70, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1/CCL2), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)], as well as decreased expression of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor and keratinocyte-derived chemokine. The overexpressed levels of IL-1α, IL-6, IL-12p40p70, MCP-1/CCL2, and TNF-α were attenuated by sympathetic denervation. Pretreatment with dexamethasone significantly reduced CCl4-induced hepatic injury. Collectively, this study demonstrates that the SNS plays an important role in CCl4-induced acute hepatotoxicity and systemic inflammation and the effect may be connected with chemical- or drug-induced hepatotoxicity and circulating immune response.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alkaline Phosphatase / blood
  • Animals
  • Carbon Tetrachloride Poisoning / blood
  • Carbon Tetrachloride Poisoning / complications
  • Carbon Tetrachloride Poisoning / drug therapy
  • Carbon Tetrachloride Poisoning / physiopathology*
  • Chemokine CCL2 / blood
  • Chemokines / blood
  • Cytokines / blood
  • Dexamethasone / therapeutic use
  • Liver / pathology*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Sympathetic Nervous System / physiopathology*
  • Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome / blood
  • Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome / drug therapy
  • Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome / etiology
  • Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome / physiopathology*
  • Transaminases / blood

Substances

  • Ccl2 protein, mouse
  • Chemokine CCL2
  • Chemokines
  • Cytokines
  • Dexamethasone
  • Transaminases
  • Alkaline Phosphatase

Grants and funding

This study was supported in part by grants from the National Science Council, Taiwan (NSC100-2320-B-016-006-MY3); Department of Medical Research of Cardinal Tien Hospital, Taiwan (CTH-103-1-2C04); National Defense Medical Center, Tri-Service General Hospital, Taiwan (TSGH-C102-069, TSGH-C103-078, TSGH-C103-080, and TSGH-C104-175); and Ministry of National Defense Medical Affairs Bureau (MAB-103-066 and MAB-104-089). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.