Interleukin 8 response and oxidative stress in HepG2 cells treated with ethanol, acetaldehyde or lipopolysaccharide.

The aim of this work was to study the induction and secretion of interleukin 8 (IL-8) and some oxidative stress parameters after ethanol (EtOH), acetaldehyde (Ac) or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment on HepG2 cells. Cells were treated with 50 mM EtOH, 175 &mgr;M Ac or 1 &mgr;g/ml of LPS. IL-8 induction and secretion were determined in the presence of the toxics, and the effect of antioxidants N-acetyl-L-cysteine and 1,1,3,3-tetramethyl-2-thiourea was evaluated.

Cadmium induces alpha(1)collagen (I) and metallothionein II gene and alters the antioxidant system in rat hepatic stellate cells.

The mechanism of cadmium-mediated hepatotoxicity has been the subject of numerous investigations, principally in hepatocytes. Although, some uncertainties persist, sufficient evidence has emerged to provide a reasonable account of the toxic process in parenchymal cells. However, there is no information about the effect of cadmium in other hepatic cell types, such as stellate cells (fat storing cells, Ito cells, perisinusoidal cells, parasinusoidal cells, lipocytes).