I Bykov1, H Järveläinen, K Lindros. 1. Department of Mental Health and Alcohol Research, National Public Health Institute, POB 33, 00251 Helsinki, Finland.
Abstract
AIMS: Excessive alcohol intake induces hepatic fatty infiltration, which has been suggested to sensitize the liver to further damage. To test this hypothesis, L-carnitine, a constitutional lipotropic compound, was administered to rats chronically treated with ethanol by liquid diet feeding for 10 weeks. RESULTS: Ethanol administration caused marked steatosis, mild inflammation and elevated plasma alanine aminotransferase and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) concentrations. Dietary supplementation with L-carnitine significantly reduced all these parameters as well as the hepatic concentration of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, an indicator of lipid peroxidation products. Pretreatment with L-carnitine also significantly blunted ethanol-induced stimulation of TNF-alpha release by isolated Kupffer cells. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides direct support for the notion that steatosis sensitizes the liver to further damage and suggests an involvement of TNF-alpha in this process.
AIMS: Excessive alcohol intake induces hepatic fatty infiltration, which has been suggested to sensitize the liver to further damage. To test this hypothesis, L-carnitine, a constitutional lipotropic compound, was administered to rats chronically treated with ethanol by liquid diet feeding for 10 weeks. RESULTS:Ethanol administration caused marked steatosis, mild inflammation and elevated plasma alanine aminotransferase and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) concentrations. Dietary supplementation with L-carnitine significantly reduced all these parameters as well as the hepatic concentration of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, an indicator of lipid peroxidation products. Pretreatment with L-carnitine also significantly blunted ethanol-induced stimulation of TNF-alpha release by isolated Kupffer cells. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides direct support for the notion that steatosis sensitizes the liver to further damage and suggests an involvement of TNF-alpha in this process.
Authors: Dae Won Jun; Byung Ik Kim; Yong Kyun Cho; Hong Ju Kim; Young Oh Kwon; Soo Young Park; Sang Young Han; Yang Hyun Baek; Yong Jin Jung; Hwi Young Kim; Won Kim; Jeong Heo; Hyun Young Woo; Seong Gyu Hwang; Kyu Sung Rim; Jong Young Choi; Si Hyun Bae; Young Sang Lee; Young Suck Lim; Jae Youn Cheong; Sung Won Cho; Byung Seok Lee; Seok Hyun Kim; Joo Hyun Sohn; Tae Yeob Kim; Yong Han Paik; Ja Kyung Kim; Kwan Sik Lee Journal: Clin Mol Hepatol Date: 2013-06-27