picibanil and Liver-Diseases

Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) was induced from a human peripheral mononuclear fraction by incubation with a streptococcal preparation stabilized with penicillin G (OK432). This IFN-gamma-producing activity was significantly reduced in patients with chronic hepatitis and hepatocellular carcinoma. In patients with liver cirrhosis it was also reduced but not significantly. Serum hepatitis B virus DNA and skin tests for the purified protein derivative of tuberculin, phytohemagglutinin-P and a polysaccharide fraction prepared from streptococcus pyogenes Su strain were determined to have no significant relation to this IFN-gamma-producing activity. Although the addition of interleukin 2 (IL-2) to the culture medium enhanced the IFN-gamma-producing activity, there was no difference in this enhancement between normal control and chronic hepatitis. Therefore reduction of the IFN-gamma-producing activity observed in chronic hepatitis seems to be caused by a decreased number of IFN-gamma-producing activity cells or hypofunction of these cells or both. Since HBeAg became negative in patients whose IFN-gamma-producing activity was increased by the administration of the immunopotentiator OK432 or IFN-beta, the IFN-producing system in the patients with B type hepatitis may contribute to the elimination of HBV. Adenine arabinoside suppressed IFN-gamma-producing activity both in vivo and in vitro.

Topics: Adult; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; Female; Hepatitis; Humans; In Vitro Techniques; Interferon-gamma; Leukocytes; Liver Cirrhosis; Liver Diseases; Liver Neoplasms; Male; Middle Aged; Picibanil

Intrasplenic administration of OK-432, an immunostimulant derived from Streptococcus, prevented hepatic failure induced in rats by D-galactosamine. When OK-432 was given 1.0 K.E. (Group I) or 0.1 K.E. (Group II) into the subcutaneously transpositioned spleen three times prior to dosing with D-galactosamine, survival rates were 100 and 87%, respectively. On the contrary, with a splenic injection of saline (Group III), the survival rate was 47 and 32% in rats given OK-432 1.0 K.E. intraperitoneally (Group IV). The poisoned rats given no pretreatment (Group V) survived at a rate of 26%. These results show that intrasplenic administration of OK-432 leads to a significant enhancement of survival. Metabolic data and histological findings were compatible with survival rates, in each group. Activation of the reticuloendothelial function by the intrasplenic administration of this immunostimulant seems to have prevented acute liver failure.

Topics: Acute Disease; Animals; Biological Products; Blood Chemical Analysis; Female; Injections; Liver; Liver Diseases; Mononuclear Phagocyte System; Picibanil; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; Spleen

The effect of Picibanil, a streptococcal agent, on the development of liver injury after operations for urogenital cancer was studied retrospectively in the light of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity. The series comprised 32 cases receiving Picibanil and 33 controls with otherwise comparable clinical backgrounds. Picibanil reduced the incidence of postoperative ALT rise over 50 U/l within 6 weeks but increased it thereafter. The increase in ALT activity after 6 weeks was relatively small and was seen more often in patients given blood transfusions. It was interpreted as retardation and suppression of ALT rise and as being related to the induction of interferon or to immunopotentiation. Other antihepatotoxic effects of Picibanil, due to its antioxidant activity, for example, may also account for the prevention of the early postoperative rise in ALT activity.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Alanine Transaminase; Biological Products; Female; Humans; Liver Diseases; Male; Middle Aged; Picibanil; Postoperative Period; Urogenital Neoplasms