Antioxidants attenuate nuclear factor-kappa B activation and tumor necrosis factor-alpha production in alcoholic hepatitis patient monocytes and rat Kupffer cells, in vitro

• Published in: Clinical biochemistry 1999-10, Vol.32 (7), p.563-570
• Main Authors: Hill, Daniell B, Devalaraja, Radhika, Joshi-Barve, Swati, Barve, Shirish, McClain, Craig J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: alcoholic liver disease; Animals; antioxidants; Antioxidants - pharmacology; cytokines; glutathione; Glutathione - metabolism; Hepatitis, Alcoholic - blood; Hepatitis, Alcoholic - metabolism; Humans; Kupffer Cells - drug effects; Kupffer Cells - metabolism; Male; Monocytes - drug effects; Monocytes - metabolism; NF-kappa B - metabolism; nuclear factor-kappa B; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; tumor necrosis factor; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - biosynthesis
• ISSN: 0009-9120; 1873-2933
• DOI: 10.1016/S0009-9120(99)00056-9

There is increased tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF) activity in alcoholic hepatitis (AH). Objectives: To examine the effects of antioxidants and glutathione enhancing agents on NF-κB activation and TNF production in Kupffer cells and monocytes. Design and Methods: Isolated rat Kupffer cells and peripheral blood monocytes from AH patients were treated in vitro. NF-κB activation was assessed by electrophoretic mobility shift assay and TNF was measured in cell culture supernatants. Results: Monocytes from AH patients had greater TNF production compared to normal volunteers. Pretreatment with antioxidants or gluathione enhancing agents inhibited TNF production and NF-κB activation in both monocytes from normal and AH patients as well as in rat Kupffer cells. Conclusions: There may be a therapeutic role for antioxidants or glutathione enhancing agents in disease states with increased TNF activity such as AH.