Transforming growth factor-β1 and tumor necrosis factor-α concentration in serum during disturbed lymph flow from a liver in rats.

In the last decades an increasing attention has been devoted to the role of lymphatic system in pathomechanism. The disturbed lymph flow from a liver contributes to liver fibrogenesis and probably to hepatocirrhosis. Cytokines play a major role in the development of hepatic fibrosis, the wound-healing response of the liver to chronic injury. Cytokines in hepatic fibrogenesis may be pro- or antifibrogenic. Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) is pro-fibrogenic cytokine and plays a key role in liver fibrogenesis. Interferon-γ (INF-γ) is anti-fibrogenic by downregulating hepatic stellate cell activation. We described the negative correlation between tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and IFN-γ concentration in serum during disturbed lymph flow from a liver of rats. TNF-α plays a antifibrogenic role in liver fibrogenesis too. Male Albino Wistar rats weighing 250 - 300 grams were selected for the experiment. The animals were kept in stable condition and were fed a standard diet with no fluid restriction. The rats were divided into 3 groups: group B - mechanical insufficiency was obtained by ligation of hepatic trunc, group K - underwent sham operation, group 0 - rats not subjected to any surgery. The animals were sacrificed for experiment in 1, 3, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 56 and 103 day after operation. During experiment TGF-β1 and TNF-α concentration in serum were assayed. We observed a positive correlation between TGF-β1 and TNF-α concentration in serum. During disturbed lymph flow from the liver TNF-α plays probably a antifibrogenic role in liver fibrogenesis.