BDL significantly increases MIP-1α but decreases TNFα
expression, while TAA markedly decreases TNFα and MCP-1 expression in
the livers of rats
Macrophages are key regulators of fibrosis development(23). The liver
contains macrophages including Kupffer cells and macrophages filtered
from the blood. When activated, they can produce and release many
proinflammatory cytokines, such as TNFα, MIP-2, MIP-1α and MCP-1. These
cytokines may attract other proinflammatory cells and recruit
macrophages themselves to sites of inflammation. As Table 4 shows, the
TNFα, MIP-2 and MCP-1 levels were significantly higher in the livers of
control female rats than in the livers of male rats. BDL or TAA
treatment significantly reduced TNFα and MCP-1 levels and slightly
increased MIP-2 levels; BDL significantly increased the level of MIP-1 α
in female rats, but TAA had no obvious effect on MIP-1α in male rats
(Figure 5).