Abstract: Objective To observe the expression and significance of extracellular adenosine triphosphate (eATP) in concanavalin A (ConA)-induced murine acute liver injury model. Methods A total of 72 mice were randomly classified into control group (saline, 36 cases) and ConA group (20 mg/kg ConA, 36 cases). The blood specimens and liver tissues were collected at 2, 6, 12, 18, 24 and 48 h after injection. The activities of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were measured by Reitman Frankel assay. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) dyeing was carried out to assess the pathological change of liver tissue. The levels of eATP in serum were detected by chemiluminescence. Western-blot was employed to detect the expression of purinoceptor P2(P2X7). The contents of serum interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β) were assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results The ConA-induced murine acute liver injury model was constructed successfully. The level of eATP increased at 2 h after ConA injection, and reached peak at 18 h (700 nmol / L). Meanwhile, there expressed P2X7 in liver tissues. Compared with control group, the IL-1β levels in serum of ConA group increased significantly (P<0.01). Conclusions In ConA-induced murine acute liver injury model, eATP releases from the injury liver tissues, and might influence the synthesis and secretion of inflammatory cytokine IL-1β through the P2X7 pathway, eventually aggravating the process of acute liver injury.

Key words: Adenosine triphosphate, Concanavalin A, Liver injury, Inflammasome, Interleukin 1beta