Inhibitory effect of TJN-101 ((+)-(6S,7S,R-biar)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-1,2,3,12-tetramethoxy -6,7-dimethyl-10,11- methylenedioxy-6-dibenzo[a,c]cyclooctenol) on immunologically induced liver injuries.

TJN-101, which is a lignan component isolated from schisandra fruits, inhibits hepatotoxic chemicals-induced liver injuries. In this study, effects of TJN-101 on immunologically induced liver injuries were investigated in vivo and in vitro. When a small dose of lipopolysaccharide was injected into mice previously injected with heat-killed Propionibacterium acnes, most of the animals died with acute hepatic failure which was produced by cytotoxic factors from activated adherent cells, and liver cells were injured by antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxic (ADCC) reaction or activated macrophages in vitro. TJN-101 reduced the mortality of the mice with acute hepatic failure dose-dependently. Histologically, necrosis was suppressed by the treatment of TJN-101, but infiltration of non-specific inflammatory cells was not. TJN-101 inhibited the isolated liver cell injuries induced by ADCC reaction or activated macrophages in vitro. These results suggest that TJN-101 can be markedly protective against immunological liver injuries.