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-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) is pro-fibrogenic cytokine and plays a key role in liver fibrogenesis. Interferon-gamma (INF-gamma) is anti-fibrogenic by downregulating hepatic stellate cell activation. We described the negative correlation between tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and IFN-gamma concentration in serum during disturbed lymph flow from a liver of rats. TNF-alpha 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-beta 1 and TNF-ct concentration in serum were assayed. We observed a positive correlation between TGF-beta 1 and TNF-alpha concentration in serum. During disturbed lymph flow from the liver TNF-alpha plays probably a antifibrogenic role in liver fibrogenesis.