Concanavalin A?induced T-cell?Mediated hepatic injury in mice: The role of tumor necrosis factor*1

Concanavalin A activates T lymphocytes in vitro and causes T-cell-dependent hepatic injury in mice. T lymphocytes were previously identified as effector cells of concanavalin A-induced liver injury. Here we report that hepatic injury is characterized by apoptotic cell death. On concanavalin A challenge, the cytokines tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF alpha), interleukin-2, granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor, and interferon-gamma were detectable in the circulation of the mice. Pretreatment of mice with anti-mouse TNF-alpha antiserum protected them from concanavalin A-induced liver injury. Nude mice failed to release TNF-alpha or interleukin-2 after concanavalin A challenge and w…