Cytoprotective effect of prostaglandins on isolated rat liver cells

In vitro studies were carried out on isolated rat hepatocytes to examine further the proposed cytoprotective actions of prostaglandins (PG) using carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) as the toxic agent. Isolated hepatocytes, prepared by collagenase, were cultured in Leibowitz-15 medium. Following preincubation, CCl4 (300 or 150 micrograms/ml) was added to the hepatocytes. Treatment with Indomethacin (INDO), 16, 16-dimethyl-PGE2(PGE2) and prostacyclin (PGI2) was assayed in the cultures. Cell damage was measured by lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) release. 6-keto-PGF1 alpha was measured in the supernatant by direct radioimmunoassay. The results showed PGI2 (30.0 ng/ml) treatment 30 min after CCl4 (300 micrograms/ml) addition to be highly protective (p less than 0.001 versus CCl4 control). PGE2 (3 ng/ml) showed similar protection (p less than 0.001). INDO (2 micrograms/ml) following CCl4 (150 micrograms/ml) demonstrated increased cell death (p less than 0.001). INDO (0.5 micrograms/ml) reduced 6-keto-PGF1 alpha production (p less than 0.05). Low dose ethanol (1.5 micrograms/ml) increased 6-keto-PGF1 alpha production (p less than 0.05). Ethanol (1.5 micrograms/ml), added to stimulate endogenous PG production, was cytoprotective when added prior to CCl4 (p less than 0.01). This protection was suppressed by INDO. Ethanol added after CCl4 was not protective. We conclude that exogenously added PGI2 and PGE2 are cytoprotective in this in vitro model and that endogenous PG production may play a protective role in the initial stages of cellular damage.