[The effect of endotoxin on the expression of tissue factor in the CCl4-treated rat liver].

Background/aims: Endotoxemia is known to cause hepatic microcirculation disturbance and hepatic injury through blood coagulation and thrombosis in the cirrhotic patients. This study was to investigate the effect of endotoxin on the expression of tissue factor in rat liver with persistent injury.

Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were used for this experiment. Persistent hepatic injury was induced by injecting 0.1 mL of CCl4 and 0.1 mL of mineral oil per 100 grams of body weight, intraperitoneally. Twenty-four rats were divided into 4 groups and lipopolysaccharide (LPS, E. coli O111:B4) was injected intraperitoneally in 3 groups in a dose of 200 microgram/kg, 400 microgram/kg, and 800 microgram/kg, respectively. Expression of tissue factor was evaluated by real time PCR method. SYBR Green I, a DNA binding fluorophore was used for the detection of PCR product.

Results: Expression of hepatic tissue factor tended to increase according to the amounts of LPS. Specially, the expression of tissue factor was significantly increased in the group into which 400 microgram/kg of LPS was injected, compared with control group (p<0.05).

Conclusions: Expression of tissue factor tends to increase according to the amounts of LPS in the persistent hepatic injury. LPS may play an important role in the expression of tissue factor in the CCl4-treated rat liver.