Protective effects of α1-acid glycoprotein and serum amyloid A on concanavalin A-induced liver failure via interleukin-6 induction by ME3738

We examined whether the 22β-methoxyolean-12-ene-3β,24(4β)-diol (ME3738)-mediated selective induction of interleukin-6 increased α1-acid glycoprotein and serum amyloid A expression, and whether these proteins protected against liver injury in vitro and in vivo. ME3738 treatment in male mice increased gene expression of α1-acid glycoprotein subtypes and serum amyloid A 2 genes, and plasma concentration of serum amyloid A. Treatment with α1-acid glycoprotein at 5 mg/animal or serum amyloid A at 0.03 and 0.1 mg/animal prior to concanavalin A administration reduced multifocal necrosis in the liver. Treatment with α1-acid glycoprotein and serum amyloid A, but not α1-antitrypsin, protected Hep G2 cells against cell injury. These results suggest that α1-acid glycoprotein and serum amyloid A, increased by ME3738-induced interleukin-6, might protect against concanavalin A-induced liver injury.