The IL-6–gp130–STAT3 pathway in hepatocytes triggers liver protection in T cell–mediated liver injury
J. Clin. Invest. Christian Klein, et al. 115:860 doi:10.1172/JCI23640 [Go to this article.]

Figure 7
Acute-phase protein SAA2 and the chemokine KC are IL-6–gp130–STAT–induced, liver-protective proteins. (A) SAA2 serum levels after IL-6 (200 μg/kg) injection. Each time point represents the serum of 3–5 animals. Filled squares represent wild-type mice, open squares show alfpCre gp130^LoxP/LoxP mice, filled triangles mark alfpCre gp130^Y757F/LoxP mice, and open triangles represent alfpCre gp130^ΔSTAT/LoxP. (B) Pretreatment with recombinant SAA (0.8 mg/kg) leads to a significant reduction of AST levels in the time course of Con A–induced hepatitis in wild-type mice. Either SAA (dotted line) or NaCl (solid line) was injected intravenously 1 hour before induction of Con A–induced hepatitis. (C) Serum KC levels after IL-6 injection. Filled squares represent wild-type mice, open squares show alfpCre gp130^LoxP/LoxPmice, filled triangles mark alfpCre gp130^Y757F/LoxP mice, and open triangles represent alfpCre gp130^ΔSTAT/LoxP. (D) IL-6 treatment results in a significant reduction of PMN infiltration during Con A–induced hepatitis. Four hours after Con A injection, the influx of PMNs was counted on H&:E-stained paraffin sections by an experienced liver pathologist. The arrows mark liver infiltrating PMNs. hPF, high powered field. (E) KC (40 μg/kg) treatment leads to a significant reduction of AST levels during Con A–induced hepatitis. Eight mice per group were treated with either KC (dotted line) or NaCl (solid line) 1 hour before Con A injection. ^§P < 0.001 and *P < 0.05 vs. corresponding control groups at the same time point.