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Bile Duct Ligation in Mice: Induction of Inflammatory Liver Injury and Fibrosis by Obstructive Cholestasis
Published on: February 10, 2015
Immobilization stress increases hepatic IL-6 expression in mice
H Kitamura1, A Konno, M Morimatsu
1Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan.
Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
|October 23, 1997
Summary
Immobilization stress rapidly increases serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) in mice, primarily in the liver's parenchymal cells. This response differs from lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induction, which favors the spleen.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Stress Physiology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a key cytokine involved in immune responses and inflammation.
- Stressors can significantly impact immune system function and cytokine production.
- Understanding the tissue-specific mechanisms of IL-6 induction is crucial for inflammatory disease research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of immobilization stress on IL-6 production in mice.
- To compare the mechanisms of IL-6 induction by immobilization stress versus bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS).
- To identify the specific cell types involved in IL-6 production under different stimuli.
Main Methods:
- Mice were subjected to immobilization stress or injected with LPS.
- Serum IL-6 levels and IL-6 mRNA expression in the liver and spleen were measured.
- Immunohistochemistry was used to localize IL-6 production in liver tissue.
Main Results:
- Immobilization stress increased serum IL-6 and IL-6 mRNA in the liver and spleen within 1 hour.
- Liver showed greater IL-6 mRNA induction than the spleen on a whole-organ basis following stress.
- LPS preferentially induced IL-6 mRNA in the spleen and IL-6 in sinusoidal mononuclear cells, contrasting with stress-induced hepatic parenchymal cell IL-6 production.
Conclusions:
- Immobilization stress induces IL-6 production in the liver, particularly in hepatic parenchymal cells.
- The mechanism of IL-6 induction by immobilization stress differs from that induced by LPS.
- These findings highlight distinct pathways for cytokine regulation in response to different types of stimuli.

