Decreased IgA+ plasma cells and IgA expression in acute liver necrosis mice

Abstract

Aim: To investigate the number of intestinal immunoglobulin A (IgA+) plasma cells and expression of intestinal IgA in mice with acute liver necrosis.

Methods: A model of acute liver necrosis was established by intraperitoneal injection of galactosamine (GalN) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Sixty mice were randomly divided into one of 4 equal groups: normal control, acute liver necrosis, LPS, or GalN. Hematoxylin and eosin staining, immunohistochemistry, and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were employed to assess liver and intestinal injury, count intestinal IgA+ plasma cells, and measure the expression level of IgA and interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) in the small intestinal mucosa of mice.

Results: Injured intestinal mucosa was observed in the acute liver necrosis group but not in the normal, LPS or GalN groups. Compared with the normal group, intestinal IgA+ plasma cells were slightly decreased in the LPS and GalN groups [429 +/- 20 per high power field (HPF), 406 +/- 18/HPF, respectively], whereas they were markedly decreased in the acute liver necrosis group (282 +/- 17/HPF vs 495 +/- 26/HPF in normal group, P < 0.05). The expression of intestinal IgA was also slightly decreased in LPS and GalN groups, but was markedly reduced in the acute liver necrosis group as determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (P < 0.05). In contrast, the level of IFN-gamma was slightly increased in LPS, GalN and acute liver necrosis groups, but with no statistical significance (P > 0.05).

Conclusion: Intestinal IgA+ plasma cells and IgA expression levels indicating that mucosal immune barrier dysfunction, does exist in acute liver necrosis.

Figure 1

Serum alanine transaminase levels. Each value was expressed as mean ± SE. ^aP < 0.05 vs normal saline (NS). ALT: Alanine transaminase; GalN: Galactosamine; LPS: Lipopolysaccharide.

Figure 2

Hematoxylin and eosin staining of liver tissue (100 ×). A: Normal group; B: Acute liver necrosis group; C: Lipopolysaccharide group; D: Galactosamine group.

Figure 3

Morphology of intestinal samples stained with hematoxylin and eosin (200 ×). A: Normal group; B: Acute liver necrosis group; C: Lipopolysaccharide group; D: Galactosamine group.

Figure 4

Immunoglobulin A+ cells determined by immunohistochemistry (400 ×). Immunohistochemistry demonstrated that Immunoglobulin A in the plasma cells within the lamina propria were stained brown. A: Normal group; B: Acute liver necrosis group; C: Lipopolysaccharide group; D: Galactosamine group.

Figure 5

Immunoglobulin A+ plasma cells (A), the immunoglobulin A expression levels (B) and interferon-γ expression (C) in intestinal mucosal tissue. ^aP < 0.05 vs normal saline (NS). HP: High power field; GalN: Galactosamine; LPS: Lipopolysaccharide.