Purification and characterization of a membrane-bound ATPase from Acetabularia cliftonii that corresponds to a Cl(-)-translocating ATPase in Acetabularia acetabulum

A Mg(2+)-ATPase was solubilized from membranes of Acetabularia cliftonii using nonanoyl-N-methylgluconamide and purified by ion-exchange and gel permeation chromatography. One active ATPase fraction after Mono Q chromatography had a specific activity of 10 units/mg of protein. Judged from subunit composition [54 (a), 50 (b) with a fainter band around 40 kDa], catalytic properties, and N-terminal amino acid sequence of the b subunit, the isolated enzyme was comparable to the Cl(-)-ATPase of Acetabularia acetabulum. Immunological characterization of both subunits showed significant similarity to the F type of ATPase. Cl(-)-transport activity was observed by reconstitution studies into liposomes.

Promotion of sleep by prostaglandin D2 in rats made insomniac by pretreatment with para-chlorophenylalanine

The correlation between the somnogenic effect of prostaglandin (PG) D2 and the serotoninergic system was examined in freely-moving rats (n = 64) by use of a continuous infusion method. Rats pretreated with para-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA: 450 mg/kg body weight, i.p.) or non-PCPA-pretreated rats received infusion of PGD2, serotonin, or its direct precursor, 5-hydroxytryptophan (5HTP), into their third cerebral ventricle at a rate of 100 pmol/0.2 microliter/min between 11:00 and 17:00 h. In the PCPA-pretreated insomniac rats, PGD2 infusion resulted in an immediate increase in slow-wave sleep (SWS) and an increase with a 2-h latency in paradoxical sleep (PS). The total amounts of SWS and PS during the PGD2-infusion period were 151% and 154% of the respective control values. These results indicate that inhibition of the biosynthesis of serotonin and 5HTP by PCPA marginally affects the sleep-promoting effect of PGD2. The transient sleep restoration produced by 5HTP infusion into PCPA-pretreated rats was hardly affected by the simultaneous infusion (200 pmol/0.2 microliter/min; 07:00-17:00 h) of diclofenac sodium, an inhibitor of cyclo-oxygenase, suggesting that PGD2 production is not critically involved in the sleep restoration by 5HTP. The sleep-promoting property of PGD2 is thus probably independent of the serotoninergic modulation of sleep-wake activity.

Effects of nifedipine and TMB-8 on angiotensin II-induced mesenteric vasoconstriction in dogs

The effects of a Ca2+ entry blocker, nifedipine, and a putative intracellular Ca2+ release inhibitor, 8-(N, N-diethylamino) octyl-3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoate (TMB-8), on mesenteric vasoconstriction, induced by angiotensin II, were examined in anesthetized dogs. Injection of angiotensin II (5 and 10 ng/kg) into the mesenteric artery decreased the mesenteric blood flow, which was suppressed during intramesenteric arterial infusion of TMB-8 (30 and 100 micrograms/kg/min) but not of nifedipine (0.03 and 0.1 microgram/kg/min). A higher dose of nifedipine (0.3 microgram/kg/min) only slightly attenuated the mesenteric blood flow response. Intravenous injection of angiotensin II (100 ng/kg) decreased the mesenteric and renal blood flow. Both blood flow responses were suppressed during intravenous infusion of TMB-8 (1 and 2 mg/kg/min). Intravenous infusion of nifedipine (0.1-1.0 microgram/kg/min) suppressed the renal blood flow response, whereas the mesenteric blood flow response was relatively resistant to nifedipine. The present results suggest that a TMB-8-sensitive Ca2+ movement pathway participates in the angiotensin II-induced contraction of the dog mesenteric vasculature in vivo. The Ca2+ influx through dihydropyridine-sensitive Ca2+ channels may not play a significant role in the angiotensin II-induced mesenteric vasoconstriction.

Inhibition by omega-conotoxin GVIA of adrenal catecholamine release in response to endogenous and exogenous acetylcholine

Effects of the N-type voltage-dependent Ca2+ channel (VDCC) blocker, omega-conotoxin GVIA, and the L-type VDCC blockers, nifedipine and verapamil, on adrenal catecholamine release were examined in anesthetized dogs. These blockers were infused into the adrenal gland through the phrenicoabdominal artery. Splanchnic nerve stimulation at 1 and 3 Hz produced frequency-dependent increases in epinephrine and norepinephrine output determined from adrenal venous blood. Infusion of omega-conotoxin GVIA (0.4 micrograms/min) significantly inhibited the splanchnic nerve stimulation-evoked increases in epinephrine and norepinephrine output. Furthermore, increases in epinephrine and norepinephrine output induced by intraarterial injection of acetylcholine (3 micrograms) into the adrenal gland also were inhibited by omega-conotoxin GVIA (0.4 micrograms/min). Further inhibition of splanchnic nerve stimulation- or exogenous acetylcholine-induced increases in catecholamine output was observed even after the cessation of omega-conotoxin GVIA infusion. Neither nifedipine (1 microgram/min) nor verapamil (10 micrograms/min) affected the splanchnic nerve stimulation-evoked increases in catecholamine output, whereas they inhibited the exogenous acetylcholine-evoked catecholamine release. These results suggest that N-type VDCCs located in adrenal medullary cells may contribute to the release of adrenal catecholamines in response to endogenous and exogenous acetylcholine in the dog.

[A study of relationships among solvent inhalation, personality and expectancy; especially on affinity to hallucination, sensation seeking and neurotic tendency]

94 delinquents in two homes for resocialization were surveyed to elucidate the relationship among the status of volatile solvent inhalation, expectancy and personality. The subjects were classified into solvent-inhalation group and non-solvent-inhalation group, and the former was divided into solvent dependence group and abuse group according to DSM-III-R. Each group was given personality tests; general health questionnaire (GHQ), sensation seeking scale (SSS), the vividness of visual imagery (VVIQ), test of visual imagery control (TVIC) and Yatabe-Guilford test (YG). In addition we investigated expectancy and mental symptoms caused by inhalation in it. The results are summarized as follows; 1. Inhalation group scored higher on SSS than non-inhalation group. 2. Compared with abuse group, dependence group presented with 1) higher GHQ score meaning neurotic tendency; 2) higher TVIC score meaning imagery-control-ability; 3) a higher incidence of day-dream and hallucination, especially egosyntonic type; 4) higher expectancy of "enhancement of positive affection", "reduction of negative affection" and "hallucination seeking"; 5) lower expectancy of "association with friends". 3. Higher scored inhalers on TVIC showed visual hallucinations, especially egosyntonic type more frequently than lower ones. 4. Significant correlations were recognized between GHQ score and expectancy of "reduction of negative affection", and between lack of objectiveness score of YG subscale and "hallucination seeking" expectancy. These results suggested that 1) beginning of inhalation is associated with sensation seeking trait, 2) progression to solvent dependence is correlated with three expectancies, i.e., seeking egosyntonic hallucinations paralleling high imagery-control-ability and subjectivity, reducing negative affection paralleling neurotic tendency, and enhancing positive affection. According to the findings, indulgence to drug induced positive imagery led delinquents into splitting of personality. In their treatment we need to help them to integrate high imagery ability and sensation seeking for recovery.

In vivo microdialysis for the transdermal absorption of valproate in rats

The suitability of sampling via microdialysis for a lipophilic drug, valproate (VPA), was evaluated by the elimination rate constant of VPA solution in an in vitro experimental first-order elimination system. The elimination rate constant of VPA in dialysate was found to be 0.43 +/- 0.05h-1, which was in good agreement with the real elimination rate constant (0.46 +/- 0.02h-1). A change in VPA concentration in the solution surrounding a microdialysis probe was well maintained by the microdialysis method, suggesting no adsorption between the membrane of the microdialysis probe and VPA. On the basis of the in vitro experiment, the effect of a penetration enhancer, 1-[2-(decylthio)ethyl]azacyclopentan-2-one (HPE-101), on the transdermal absorption of VPA was examined in rats by the use of microdialysis in vivo. An intradermal microdialysis was performed at a flow rate of 1.0 microliter/min for 7h after the dermal application of 50 mM VPA solution with or without 3% (w/v) HPE-101. HPE-101 increased the transdermal absorption rate of VPA by 80 times compared with the control. The microdialysis system was found to be quite useful for assessing the in vivo transdermal absorption of a lipophilic VPA.

Molecular cloning of P-type ATPases on intracellular membranes of the marine alga Heterosigma akashiwo

Two cDNA clones (HAA13 and HAA1) which include conserved regions of genes of P-type ATPases were isolated from the marine alga Heterosigma akashiwo by a method that included the polymerase chain reaction. The longer cDNA (3286 bp), HAA13, consisted of an open reading frame that encoded a 106 kDa polypeptide of 977 amino acids with several possible transmembrane domains and conserved regions of eukaryotic P-type ATPases. One transmembrane domain had a leucine zipper structure. HAA1 was not a full-length gene (2054 bp) and lacked the 5' region, but it also included the conserved regions and putative transmembrane domains. Antibodies against the regions and putative transmembrane domains. Antibodies against the polypeptides encoded by HAA13 and HAA1 that have been expressed in Escherichia coli reacted with 100 kDa and 95 kDa polypeptides, respectively, on intracellular membranes of H. akashiwo cells. Immunostaining of H. akashiwo cells revealed that the HAA13 antigen was distributed on membranes around chloroplasts and the HAA1 antigen was located on small vesicles.

Augmented agonist-induced Ca(2+)-sensitization of coronary artery contraction in genetically hypertensive rats. Evidence for altered signal transduction in the coronary smooth muscle cells

The Ca2+ responsiveness of vascular smooth muscle myofilaments is not unique: it is increased during neuro-humoral activation and decreased during beta-adrenergic stimulation. In this study we tested whether an augmented Ca2+ responsiveness of smooth muscle myofilaments may contribute to the increased coronary tone observed in hypertension using beta-escin-permeabilized coronary arteries from 3-mo-old stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP) and their age matched normotensive reference strain (WKY rats). In intact coronary arteries, the response to 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) but not to KCl was larger in SHRSP than in WKY rats. In beta-escin permeabilized coronary arteries in which the receptor effector coupling is still intact, 5-HT enhanced force at constant submaximal (Ca2+) (pCa 6.38) to a greater extent in SHRSP. The Ca2+ sensitizing effect of 5-HT was mimicked by GTP gamma S (0.01-10 microM); again this effect was larger in SHRSP. In the absence of 5-HT or GTP gamma S the Ca2+ force relation was similar in both groups. Forskolin induced relaxation at constant submaximal (Ca2+). This desensitizing effect was smaller in SHRSP than in WKY rats. In conclusion, this study shows that intracellular signalling pathways involved in modulating the Ca2+ responsiveness of coronary smooth muscle myofilaments are altered in the genetically hypertensive animals favoring a hypercontractile state in the coronary circulation.

Flow cytometric analysis of the cell cycle of the leukemic cell lines treated with etoposide and cytosine arabinoside

Effects of etoposide (VP-16) and cytosine arabinoside (Ara-C) on the cell cycle of HL-60 and THP-1 cells were studied by flow cytometry using the bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU)/DNA assay technique to investigate the efficacy of VP-16 for monocytic leukemia cells. VP-16 inhibited the proliferation of THP-1 cells more strongly than that of HL-60 cells at any concentrations used at 24 and 48 hr. VP-16 arrested HL-60 and THP-1 cells in the G2/M phase and reduced them in the G0/G1 and early S phase at higher concentrations. There was no significant difference in the percentage of G2/M phase cells at the same concentration between both cells. However, reduction in the G0/G1 and early S phase cells was more marked in THP-1 than HL-60 cells significantly. On the other hand, Ara-C perturbed the cell cycle of HL-60 cells more than that of THP-1 cells at 24 and 48 hr. These results suggest that the effects of VP-16 on the cell cycle may be more intense in THP-1 than HL-60 cells, and support the efficacy of VP-16 for treating monocytic leukemia in vivo.

What is the minimum number of heart rates necessary to evaluate fetal conditions at different gestational ages?

Our objective was to determine the minimum number of fetal heart rates (FHRs) needed to assess various fetal conditions adequately, focusing on FHR changes in relation to gestational age. We used probability distribution matrices previously derived from 10,934,604 FHRs of 743 uncomplicated fetuses. These matrices were made at nine consecutive 2-week intervals between 23 and 40 weeks' gestation, from which samples were taken after assigning random numbers to FHRs in sequence. As a variable, the difference rate (%) between the sample probability distribution matrix and its corresponding age-group probability distribution matrix was calculated. Scattergrams of difference rates vs. a given number of FHR samplings were analyzed using piecewise linear regression. One critical point per age-group emerged, ranging between 9000 and 10,000 beats, for all age-groups. A linear decrease in the difference rate was noted with a step-by-step increase in random sampling size of FHRs until reaching the critical point, beyond which the difference rate remained constant between 25-33%. The critical points indicate that the minimum number of FHRs for assessment of the fetus at 23-40 weeks' gestation is almost the same, between 9000 and 10,000, with 67-75% baseline variability (so called beat-to-beat variability) and 25-33% long-term variability regardless of advance in gestation.

Cholecystokinin is not a major regulator in the digestive system in the chicken

To find out whether physiological concentrations of cholecystokinin (CCK), a gastrointestinal hormone in mammals, are also active in chickens, the pancreatic amylase secretory response to CCK-8 was investigated in vitro. Rat pancreatic acini responded to the physiological concentration of CCK-8, but in chickens amylase release was induced at a concentration of CCK-8 1000 times higher than that observed in rats. In another experiment, biliary flow was tested with several doses of CCK-8. The bile flow was stimulated in a dose-dependent fashion, but a significant enhancement was not obtained at a concentration of 0.5 micrograms CCK-8/kg body weight, which was considerably higher than physiological ones. It is concluded that endogenous CCK does not have an important role in the digestive system in the chicken.

Vasopressin mediated vasodilation of cerebral arteries

The bolus injection of vasopressin into the vertebral artery produced a dose-dependent vasodilation in the major cerebral arteries, detected angiographically, while it elicited a decrease in vertebral blood flow. One nanomol of vasopressin was the optimal dose for producing maximal vasodilation. The basilar, posterior communicating, and internal carotid arteries showed the most dilatation, followed by the middle cerebral, the intracranial portion of the vertebral artery and the anterior spinal artery. The extracranial portion of the vertebral artery was less sensitive to vasopressin. The vasodilation was inhibited by a V1-antagonist and NG-monomethyl-L-arginine. These results suggest that the arteries of the circle of Willis at the base of the brain are more sensitive to nitric oxide release induced by vasopressin compared with other intracranial and extracranial arteries.

[Cyclic thrombocytopenia associated with erythroid hypoplasia--a case]

We report the case of a 75-year-old woman with cyclic thrombocytopenia associated with erythroid hypoplasia. One platelet cycle lasted for about 28-30 days, with the platelet count fluctuating from 1.0 x 10(4)/microliter to 56.0 x 10(4)/microliter. Megakaryocyte count increased in the phase during which platelet count increased, and decreased in the phase during which platelet count decreased. Bone marrow colony formation was observed in serum-free agar, and megakaryocyte colony count was correlated with the platelet cycle. Platelet-associated immunoglobulin was in the normal range when platelet count increased, but increased when platelet count decreased. These findings suggest that the observed platelet count fluctuation was related to the production and destruction of platelet. Our patient also had erythroid hypoplasia, but her erythrocyte count did not fluctuate. This is the first reported case of cyclic thrombocytopenia and erythroid hypoplasia.

The combination of lovastatin and enalapril in a model of progressive renal disease

Puromycin-induced nephrotic syndrome is an animal model of progressive renal disease. Both angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and lipid-lowering agents have been used to preserve renal structure and function in this model, although neither completely prevents progression. We tested the hypothesis that the combination of the two agents would be more protective than either alone. Rats were divided into five groups; all were uninephrectomized. Four groups were given puromycin at a dose of 10 mg/100 g body weight (BW) with additional doses of 4 mg/100 g BW given intraperitoneally at 4, 5, and 6 weeks thereafter. One group was given enalapril (EN) 50 mg/l dissolved in the drinking water; the second received lovastatin (L) 15 mg/kg given daily by gavage; the third received both agents; the fourth was left untreated, and the final group received no puromycin and served as the control group. Eight weeks after the initial dose of puromycin, glomerular filtration rate (GFR), as inulin clearance, and protein excretion were determined and blood was collected for cholesterol and triglycerides. Blood pressure was not different between any of the groups. At the end of the study period, serum cholesterol [mean +/- SD, 252 +/- 185 mg/dl (L), 135 +/- 101 mg/dl (L + EN)] and triglycerides (239 +/- 200, 148 +/- 158 mg/dl) were significantly lower (P < 0.001) in the lovastatin-treated groups than in the untreated puromycin group (535 +/- 255 mg/dl and 579 +/- 561 mg/dl, cholesterol and triglyceride, respectively).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Proinflammatory cytokines and endotoxin stimulate ICAM-1 gene expression and secretion by normal human hepatocytes

Hepatocytes in normal tissues express low or undetectable levels of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), as detected by immunohistochemistry. Up-regulation of ICAM-1 expression on these cells has been reported in inflammatory liver disease (hepatitis B virus infection, autoimmune liver disorders and liver allograft rejection), and the molecule has been implicated in the recruitment, retention and activation of inflammatory cells. There is, however, little information concerning the regulation of hepatocyte expression of ICAM-1. We show here, for the first time, the induction (within 30 min) of ICAM-1 gene expression in cultured normal human hepatocytes stimulated with interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) or endotoxin. IFN-gamma was the most potent single inducer (up to fourfold at 6 hr), while further induction of ICAM-1 mRNA was achieved with cytokine combinations. Maximal mRNA expression was achieved within 10 hr. ICAM-1 could be detected readily by immunocytochemical staining on the hepatocyte surface by 12 hr, and by enzyme immunoassay in the culture medium by 24 hr. The data present clear evidence that cytokines, which have been implicated previously in inflammatory liver diseases, can up-regulate directly both ICAM-1 gene expression and protein secretion/shedding by human hepatocytes.

Interleukin 6-producing gastric carcinoma with fever, hypergammaglobulinemia, and plasmacytosis in bone marrow

A 42-year-old man with a remittent fever was found to have both para-aortic and hepatic tumors with generalized lymphadenopathy. The pathological findings from biopsy specimens from the para-aortic lymph node and hepatic tumor by laparotomy and from left supraclavicular lymphadenectomy showed undifferentiated carcinoma. However, the location of the primary lesion could not be determined. Chemotherapy temporarily reduced the size of the metastatic lymph nodes and the hepatic tumor and also suppressed the remittent fever. Fifteen months after onset, massive polyclonal hypergammapathy developed together with plasmacytosis (30% plasmacytes) in bone marrow, consisting of normal mature plasmacytes. Among cytokines, including interleukin (IL) 1 beta, IL-3, IL-4, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor alpha, a high value of IL-6 was detected in the serum. Postmortem pathological examination showed the scirrhous type of gastric carcinoma with specific staining by polyclonal antibody against human IL-6. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a gastric carcinoma producing IL-6 associated with fever, hypergammaglobulinemia, and plasmacytosis in bone marrow.

Development of a vascular prosthesis for a growing child. A graft expandable in vivo

Specially designed vascular prostheses that can be dilated after implantation using a percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) balloon catheter have been developed. The grafts are made of woven polyester fiber fabrics, the circumferential yarns of which consist of two different types of polyester fiber bundles: One is a straight weak bundle, the other is a strong bundle wound around the former. The graft with an initial diameter of 6 mm could be dilated to 9 mm by luminal inflation of the balloon four to five times at 10 atmospheres (atm) in vitro. After disrupting the weak bundle by the dilatation procedure, the strong bundles were straightened, which maintained the enlarged diameter of the new caliber. Grafts of 6 mm in initial diameter implanted into the thoracic aortas of mongrel dogs for 3 months also could be dilated in vivo by inflating the PTA four to five times at 15 atm, as found in the vitro study. Macroscopic observation revealed that, around the dilated grafts, only a tiny hematoma was formed and nominal subsequent bleeding was observed, which indicated that the dilatation procedure was performed safely. The graft, which enables adaptation of the hydrodynamic property of the graft to the increased blood flow by PTA after implantation, is applicable in a growing child.

Rapid neointima formation with elastic laminae similar to the natural arterial wall on an adipose tissue fragmented vascular prosthesis

A vascular prosthesis that can induce a neointima similar to a natural arterial wall is reported. The authors have developed a sealing method using autologous tissue fragments. The sealed graft showed many advantages, with characteristic neointima formation in an animal study. The grafts were implanted in the thoracic descending aortae of 40 dogs and were removed from 1 hour to 608 days after implantation. Another 40 dogs, used as controls, had a fabric graft implanted using the preclotting method. The luminal surface of the sealed graft was completely endothelialized and the original adipose tissue fragments were absorbed within 1 month. Smooth muscle cells infiltrated and proliferated at the same time as endothelialization took place. Most of the smooth muscle cells were arranged in parallel rows and oriented circumferentially within the graft. At 1 month, elastic fibers appeared around the smooth muscle cells near the anastomotic sites. In the long-term specimens, these elastic fibers constituted a fine lamina in the neointima. Intimal hyperplasia and degenerative changes in the neointima were not observed. These results indicated that the sealing method could induce a very stable neointima with a smooth muscle cell layer and elastic laminae similar to a natural arterial wall within a short period of time throughout the graft wall, with maintenance of the neointima for a long period of time after implantation.

Effects of protein kinase C activator and inhibitor on adrenal catecholamine release in response to splanchnic nerve stimulation in anesthetized dogs

Effects of protein kinase C (PKC) activator and inhibitors on adrenal catecholamine release were examined in anesthetized dogs. Output of epinephrine (EPI) and norepinephrine (NE) was determined from adrenal venous blood by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with electrochemical detection. All drugs were infused intraarterially (i.a.) into the adrenal gland through the phrenic abdominal artery. Infusion of the PKC activator phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate (PDB 0.1 micrograms/min) increased EPI and NE output during basal state and enhanced increases in catecholamine output induced by splanchnic nerve stimulation (SNS 1 and 3 Hz). These effects of PDB were abolished by the PKC inhibitor staurosporine (SSP 0.3 microgram/min), when both drugs were infused simultaneously. Infusion of SSP (0.1, 0.3, and 1 micrograms/min) caused a dose-dependent inhibition of the SNS-induced increases in EPI and NE output. SNS-induced increases in catecholamine output were also inhibited by another PKC inhibitor polymyxin B (PMB 0.1, 0.3, and 1 micrograms/min) and by the phospholipase C (PLC) inhibitor neomycin (NM 0.3, 1, and 3 mg/min). SSP, PMB, and NM did not affect basal output of EPI and NE. These results suggest that activation of PKC promotes release of adrenal catecholamines and provide indirect evidence that activation of PKC and PLC may be involved in SNS-induced release of catecholamines from dog adrenal gland.

Application of in vivo microdialysis to transdermal absorption of methotrexate in rats

Microdialysis was applied to determine the in vivo transdermal absorption of methotrexate (MTX) in rats with or without a new penetration enhancer, 1-[2-(decylthio)ethyl]azacyclopentan-2-one (HPE-101). A solution composed of 2.5 mM MTX and 3% (w/v) HPE-101 was applied to the shaved abdomen, in which a semipermeable membrane cannula of 10-mm length was inserted intracutaneously with the use of an L-shaped needle. Intradermal microdialysis was performed at a flow rate of 1.0 microL/min for 12 hr. The concentration of MTX in the dialysate was measured by fluorescence polarization immunoassay (FPIA). HPE-101 (3%, w/v) significantly increased the dermal MTX concentration from 0.06 +/- 0.04 microM in the control to 56 +/- 26 microM in the dialysate from 8 to 12 hr. HPE-101 at concentrations of 0.75, 1.5, 2.25, and 3% (w/v) enhanced the total recovery of MTX in dermal dialysate from 0 to 10 hr by approximately 5, 18, 42, and 500 times compared with the control, respectively. The microdialysis system is useful for assessing in vivo transdermal drug absorption.

T cell activation-associated hepatic injury: mediation by tumor necrosis factors and protection by interleukin 6

This study investigates the molecular mechanisms underlying the induction of and protection from T cell activation-associated hepatic injury. When BALB/c mice were given a single intravenous injection of concanavalin A (Con A) (> or = 0.3 mg/mouse), they developed acute hepatic injury as assessed by a striking increase in plasma transaminase levels within 24 h. Histopathologically, only the liver was injured while moderate infiltration of T cells and polymorphonuclear cells occurred in the portal areas and around the central veins. The induction of hepatic injury was dependent on the existence as well as the activation of T cells, as untreated BALB/c nu/nu mice or BALB/c mice pretreated with a T cell-specific immunosuppressive drug, FK506, failed to develop disease. Significant increases in the levels of various cytokines in the plasma were detected before an increase in plasma transaminase levels. Within 1 h after Con A injection, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) levels peaked, this being followed by production of two other inflammatory cytokines, interleukin 6 (IL-6) and IL-1. Passive immunization with anti-TNF but not with anti-IL-1 or anti-IL-6 antibody, conferred significant levels of protection. Moreover, administration of rIL-6 before Con A injection resulted in an IL-6 dose-dependent protection. A single administration of a given dose of rIL-6 completely inhibited the release of transaminases, whereas the same regimen induced only 40-50% inhibition of TNF production. More than 80% inhibition of TNF production required four consecutive rIL-6 injections. These results indicate that: (a) TNFs are critical cytokines for inducing T cell activation-associated (Con A-induced) hepatitis; (b) the induction of hepatitis is almost completely controlled by rIL-6; and (c) rIL-6 exerts its protective effect through multiple mechanisms including the reduction of TNF production.