[Protective effect of interleukin-1 beta on acetaminophen induced liver damage in mice]

In the model of liver damage induced by acetaminophen of mice, injection of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta, i.p. 50,000 U/kg) 1, 6 or 12 h before the administration of acetaminophen could reduce the leakages of GPT and GOT induced by acetaminophen, with the 12 h pretreatment being the most effective. Treatment with IL-1 beta 1 h after administration of acetaminophen had no effect. Treatment with IL-1 beta of different doses (10,000, 30,000 or 50,000 U/kg) 12 h before the administration of acetaminophen could reduce the leakages of transaminases in a dose dependent manner and decrease the mortality of mice. The protective effect of IL-1 beta on the liver could be abolished by IL-1 beta receptor antagonist. Further experiments showed that IL-1 beta could increase the content of reduced glutathione (GSH) in normal liver and reverse the decline of GSH and the increase of GSSG induced by acetaminophen. IL-1 beta could also reduce malondiadehyde (MDA) content enhanced by acetaminophen. The above results indicate that the preventive effect of IL-1 beta against liver damage due to acetaminophen may be mediated through IL-1 beta receptor by increasing glutathione synthesis and decreasing lipid peroxidation of the liver.