Studies on experimentally-induced massive hepatic cell necrosis

Organ Distribution Propionibacterium acnes and effects of the cell wall fraction of Propionibacterium acnes on Hepatocytotoxicity

Abstract

When heat-killed Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) was intravenously injected into mice, a remarkable infiltration of mononuclear cells, mainly macrophages, in the liver tissue was observed a week later, and when lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was additionally injected, massive hepatic cell necrosis was induced. In order to clarify the mechanism by which P. acnes caused the infiltration of mononuclear cells, ¹⁴C-labeled P. acnes was intravenously injected into mice, and its distribution among the organs was studied. In addition, various fractions of P. acnes were injected into mice, and their effects on the infiltration of mononuclear cells were examined. As a result, ¹⁴C-labeled P. acnes remained for a longer period of time in the liver compared to be lung, kidney and spleen. Furthermore, the chloroform insoluble fraction of the P. acnes cell wall caused the infiltration of mononuclear cells into the liver tissue, and massive hepatic cell necrosis was subsequently induced in these mice by the intravenous injection of LPS.