Effects of melatonin on free radical and cytokine of immunological liver injury mice / 中国药理学通报

ABSTRACT

AIM: To investigate the prophylactic effect of melatonin (MT) on immunological liver injury. METHODS: The model of mouse immunological liver injury was induced by injection of bacillus calmette guerin (BCG) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from tail vein. The alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), nitric oxide (NO) level in plasma, malondiadehyde (MDA) content and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in liver homogenate were assayed with different methods; Tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) activity was determined by method of L929 cells line; Interleukin-1 activity was determined by method of thymocytes proliferation. RESULTS: Immunological liver injury was successfully induced by BCG + LPS. MT (0.25, 1,4 mg·kg-1) was found to decrease significantly the serum transaminase (ALT,AST) activities. However, MT at the dose of 1 mg·kg-1 was the most effective among the three doses. MT also decreased MDA content and improved reduced SOD level in liver homogenate. Furthermore, MT significantly reduced TNF-α, NO and IL-1 levels in serum. CONCLUSION: MT shows significant protective action on immunological liver injury in mice.