RESUMO
<p><b>AIM</b>To study the therapeutic effects of N,N'-diacetyl-L-cystine (DiNAC) on immunological liver failure.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Serum ALT, AST and T cell subsets in peripheral blood of the experimental animals during the trial period were analyzed by an automatic serum analyzer and a flow cytometer, respectively. The sectioned liver specimens were examined under a light microscope. And 24 h after the injection of Gal/LPS, the survival rate of rats was calculated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>DiNAC (50, 200, 800 mg x kg(-1), i.p.) suppressed the elevation of serum levels of ALT and AST, markedly enhanced proliferation and differentiation of T cell subsets (CD4+, CD8+ and Th1, Th2), and improved all the histopathological features. In mice of fulminant hepatic failure (FHF), the survival time significantly prolonged and the survival rate increased 24 h after i.p. DiNAC. These effects were obviously dose-dependent.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>DiNAC on mice with FHF has an inhibitory action which is related to immune mechanism.</p>