Prostaglandin E1 cytoprotection against CCl4-induced necrosis in isolated rat liver cells

The role of the prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) analog misoprostol in hepatocellular injury induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) was investigated in isolated rat hepatocytes. Exogenously added PGE1 at nanomolar concentrations attenuated significantly liver cell injury and death induced by CCl4. This cytoprotection, however, was accomplished only when a "crude" liver cell preparation was used. When the small nonparenchymal liver cell fraction (Kupffer and endothelial cells) was eliminated, the beneficial effects of PGE1 could no longer be observed. The results indicate that nonparenchymal liver cells play an important role in the cytoprotection provided by PGE1 at the initial stage of cellular damage in our isolated rat liver cell system.