The inflammatory bowel disease ulcerative colitis (UC) frequently progresses to colon cancer. To understand the mechanisms by which UC patients develop colon carcinomas, we used a mouse model of the disease whereby administration of azoxymethane (AOM) followed by repeated dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) ingestion causes severe colonic inflammation and the subsequent development of multiple tumors. We found that treating WT mice with AOM and DSS increased TNF-α expression and the number of infiltrating leukocytes expressing its major receptor, p55 (TNF-Rp55), in the lamina propria and submucosal regions of the colon. This was followed by the development of multiple colonic tumors. Mice lacking TNF-Rp55 and treated with AOM and DSS showed reduced mucosal damage, reduced infiltration of macrophages and neutrophils, and attenuated subsequent tumor formation. WT mice transplanted with TNF-Rp55–deficient bone marrow also developed significantly fewer tumors after AOM and DSS treatment than either WT mice or TNF-Rp55–deficient mice transplanted with WT bone marrow. Furthermore, administration of etanercept, a specific antagonist of TNF-α, to WT mice after treatment with AOM and DSS markedly reduced the number and size of tumors and reduced colonic infiltration by neutrophils and macrophages. These observations identify TNF-α as a crucial mediator of the initiation and progression of colitis-associated colon carcinogenesis and suggest that targeting TNF-α may be useful in treating colon cancer in individuals with UC.

To clarify interleukin (IL)-6 roles in wound healing, we prepared skin excisions in wild-type (WT) and IL-6-deficient BALB/c [knockout (KO)] mice. In WT mice, the wound area was reduced to 50% of original size at 6 days after injury. Microscopically, leukocyte infiltration was evident at wound sites. Furthermore, the re-epithelialization rate was ∼80% at 6 days after injury with increases in angiogenesis and hydroxyproline contents. The gene expression of IL-1, chemokines, adhesion molecules, transforming growth factor-β1, and vascular endothelial growth factor was enhanced at the wound sites. In contrast, the enhanced expression of these genes was significantly reduced in KO mice. Moreover, in KO mice, the reduction of wound area was delayed with attenuated leukocyte infiltration, re-epithelialization, angiogenesis, and collagen accumulation. Finally, the administration of a neutralizing anti-IL-6 monoclonal antibody significantly delayed wound closure in WT mice. These observations suggest that IL-6 has crucial roles in wound healing, probably by regulating leukocyte infiltration, angiogenesis, and collagen accumulation.

Several lines of in vitro evidence suggest the potential role of IFN-γ in angiogenesis and collagen deposition, two crucial steps in the wound healing process. In this report, we examined the role of IFN-γ in the skin wound healing process utilizing WT and IFN-γ KO mice. In WT mice, excisional wounding induced IFN-γ mRNA and protein expression by infiltrating macrophages and T cells, with a concomitant enhancement of IL-12 and IL-18 gene expression. Compared with WT mice, IFN-γ KO mice exhibited an accelerated wound healing as evidenced by rapid wound closure and granulation tissue formation. Moreover, IFN-γ KO mice exhibited enhanced angiogenesis with augmented vascular endothelial growth factor mRNA expression in wound sites, compared with WT mice, despite a reduction in the infiltrating neutrophils, macrophages, and T cells. IFN-γ KO mice also exhibited accelerated collagen deposition with enhanced production of TGF-β1 protein in wound sites, compared with WT mice. Furthermore, the absence of IFN-γ augmented the TGF-β1-mediated signaling pathway, as evidenced by increases in the levels of total and phosphorylated Smad2 and a reciprocal decrease in the levels of Smad7. These results demonstrate that there is crosstalk between the IFN-γ/Stat1 and TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathways in the wound healing process.

In wild‐type BALB/c mice, i.p. administration of acetaminophen (APAP; 750 mg/kg) induced intrahepatic IFN‐' mRNA expression and a marked increase in serum transaminase levels, leading to acute lethality of ~45%. Histopathological examination showed centrilobular hepatic necrosis with leukocyte infiltration and a large number of apoptotic hepatocytes 10 and 24 h after APAP challenge. mRNA expression of intercellular adhesion molecule 1, vascular cell adhesion molecule 1, interleukin (IL) 1a, IL‐1P, IL‐6, tumor necrosis factor a, monocyte chemoattractant protein 1, macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP) 1a, MIP‐2, KC, IP‐10, Mig, Fas, and inducible nitric oxide synthase was enhanced in the liver of wild‐type mice injected with APAP. To clarify the role of IFN‐' in this process, IFN‐'‐deficient mice were treated in the same manner. All IFN‐'‐deficient mice survived with reduced serum transaminase elevation and attenuated hepatic necrosis, leukocyte infiltration, and hepatocyte apoptosis. The gene expression of all molecules was significantly attenuated in IFN‐'‐deficient mice. Administration of an anti‐IFN‐' neutralizing antibody even 2 or 8 h after APAP challenge to wild‐type mice alleviated APAP‐induced liver injury, and all mice survived. Thus, IFN‐' is responsible for APAP‐induced liver injury by mediating leukocyte infiltration, hepatocyte apoptosis, and NO production as well as cytokine and chemokine production. Moreover, immunoneutralization of IFN‐' may be therapeutically effective for developing APAP‐induced liver injury.—Ishida, Y., Kondo, T., Ohshima, T., Fujiwara, H., Iwakura, Y., Mukaida, N. A pivotal involvement of IFN‐' in the pathogenesis of acetaminophen‐induced acute liver injury. FASEB J . 16, 1227–1236 (2002)