L-selectin and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 regulate the development of Concanavalin A-induced liver injury

Concanavalin A (Con A)-induced hepatitis is a model for human T cell-mediated hepatitis. We evaluated the role of L-selectin and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in this model by injecting Con A intravenously in mice lacking L-selectin (L-selectin(-/-)), ICAM-1 (ICAM-1(-/-)), or both (L-selectin/ICAM-1(-/-)). Blood and liver samples were collected 0, 8, 24, and 48 h after Con A treatment. Increases in plasma transaminase levels, which peaked 8 h after injection, were reduced significantly in L-selectin(-/-), ICAM-1(-/-), and L-selectin/ICAM-1(-/-) mice compared with wild-type mice. Liver necrosis was more strongly inhibited in ICAM-1(-/-) mice than in L-selectin(-/-) mice but was most prominently reduced in L-selectin/ ICAM-1(-/-) mice, in parallel with decreased plasma transaminase levels. The reduced severity of hepatitis in the mutant mice correlated with decreases in numbers of liver CD4(+) T cells but not numbers of CD8(+) T cells or neutrophils. Following Con A treatment, L-selectin deficiency reduced liver mRNA expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and ICAM-1 deficiency reduced expression of interleukin-4. By contrast, reductions in liver macrophage inhibitor protein-1 alpha mRNA occurred in all mutant mice. These results indicate that L-selectin and ICAM-1 contribute cooperatively to the development of Con A-induced hepatitis by regulating leukocyte infiltration and subsequent cytokine production.