Abstract
The effect of Kupffer cell depression on concanavalin A (Con A)-induced cytokine mRNA expression in the liver was studied. Gadolinium chloride (GdCl3) is a commonly used Kupffer cell inhibitor. GdCl3 (40 mg/kg, i.p.) was injected into each mouse, and 24 hr later, Con A (0.2 mg/mouse) was administered. Plasma was obtained at 24 hr after Con A treatment for alanine aminotransferase (ALT) measurement. GdCl3 treatment inhibited Con A-induced elevation of ALT. However, it did not inhibit Con A-induced interleukin-2 or tumor necrosis factor-α mRNA expression. The present results suggest that Kupffer cells are not responsible for Con A-induced cytokine expression in the liver.
