Protective Effect of Infliximab Against Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Hepatotoxicity

J Environ Pathol Toxicol Oncol. 2015;34(2):175-82. doi: 10.1615/jenvironpatholtoxicoloncol.2015013126.

Abstract

Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), a solvent frequently used in industry, can cause acute liver failure and liver fibrosis. Infliximab (Ib), a potent tumor necrosis factor alpha blocker, has a protective effect on the liver. Therefore, we investigated the protective effect of Ib against CCl4-induced acute liver injury. In this study, 24 male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: the control group (n = 8), the CCl4 group (n = 8), and the CCl4 + Ib group (n = 8). A single dose of 2 mL/kg CCL4 was administered to the CCL4 group. The CCl4 + Ib group was injected with a single dose (7 mg/kg) of Ib 24 h before CCl4 was administered. In the CCl4 group, the serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and the liver tissue levels of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1), interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β), and adenosine deaminase (ADA) were significantly higher than the levels of these same substances in the control and CCl4 + Ib groups. The histopathological investigation revealed that although there was excessive liver injury in the CCl4 group, there was reduced injury in the CCl4 + Ib group. In addition, the carbamoyl phosphate synthetase I (CPS-I) and carbonic anhydrase II (CA-II) levels in the CCl4 group were significantly lower than those in the control and CCl4 + Ib groups. The results show that during CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity, Ib prevents liver injury by suppressing TGF-β1 and IL-1β levels, decreasing ADA levels, and regulating CPS-I and CA-II enzyme levels.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / pharmacology*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / pharmacology*
  • Carbon Tetrachloride / toxicity*
  • Cytokines / genetics
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Infliximab
  • Liver / drug effects*
  • Liver / enzymology
  • Liver / injuries
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Male
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Solvents / toxicity*

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Cytokines
  • Solvents
  • Infliximab
  • Carbon Tetrachloride