ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To establish a hepatocyte immunotoxicity model for screening of liver protective medications. METHODS: Cytotoxicity was induced by coincubating BCG-pretreated rat hepatocytes in vivo and with 10 mg/L LPS in vitro. Biphenyldimethylesterate (DDB), malotilate(MLT), silybin(SB) and glycyrrhizin (GRZ) were coincubated along with LPS to prevent the hepatocyte injury and verify the applicability and reliability of the model. AST, LDH and nitric oxide (NO) were measured in both the serum and supernatant. The liver and spleen index were calculated and the liver histopathologic changes were examined microscopically. RESULTS: Supernatant AST, LDH and NO in the BCG combined LPS group were increased in comparison with the control group (P<0.01). This increase was attenuated by the addition of DDB, MLT, SB and GRZ (P<0.05). The serum AST, NO and liver and spleen index were also increased significantly compared with the control group (P<0.01). Microscopic exam revealed serious histopathologic changes in the BCG combined LPS group. Hepatoxicity with associated liver enzyme elevation but histopathologic changes were attenuated by DDB, MLT, SB and GRZ. CONCLUSION: BCG combined LPS-induced hepatocyte immunotoxicity in an in vitro rat model may be a useful technique to assess the effectiveness of liver protective medications.