Document Detail


Eicosanoids and the liver.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  2131947     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Prostaglandins and leukotrienes are ubiquitous mediators of a wide variety of physiologic and immunologic effects in liver function and disease. Although the biochemical, synthetic and catabolic pathways of these compounds from arachidonic acid are well known, their cellular mechanisms of action are less well understood. Numerous studies have demonstrated the role for leukotrienes in the pathogenesis and the protective action of PG in experimental animal models of liver injury. These have included models of liver cell damage due to ischemia, galactosamine, carbon tetrachloride, and lipopolysaccharide. More importantly, the results of these studies have led to the demonstration of protective properties of 16, 16 dimethyl PGE2 (dm PGE2) in a mouse model of viral hepatitis. These results have led to the use of IV PGE1 in the treatment of patients with fulminant viral hepatitis, where 71% overall survival was observed as well as in the setting of primary non function and recurrent hepatitis B following liver transplantation. While the mechanisms of prostaglandin hepatic protection are not well understood, it has been demonstrated that dm PGE2 abrogates the induction of tumour necrosis factor, leukotriene B4 (LTB4) and procoagulant activity by macrophages as well as attenuating the expression of major histocompatibility class antigens on the surface of hepatocytes, and may inhibit viral replication. Finally, prostaglandins are known to play a role in the renal dysfunction associated with cirrhosis and fulminant hepatic failure, and therefore further studies of these agents in the pathophysiology and treatment of liver diseases and their complications are warranted.
Authors:
S Sinclair; G Levy
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Review    
Journal Detail:
Title:  The Italian journal of gastroenterology     Volume:  22     ISSN:  0392-0623     ISO Abbreviation:  Ital J Gastroenterol     Publication Date:  1990 Aug 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  1992-01-02     Completed Date:  1992-01-02     Revised Date:  2005-11-16    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  8000544     Medline TA:  Ital J Gastroenterol     Country:  ITALY    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  205-13     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Canada.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Animals
Humans
Leukotrienes / physiology*
Liver Diseases / drug therapy,  etiology,  physiopathology*
Prostaglandins / physiology*
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Leukotrienes; 0/Prostaglandins

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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