Interleukin-8 and trace element alterations in experimentally induced liver cirrhosis: The influence of zinc, selenium, and allopurinol treatment

The involvement of plasma interleukin-8 (IL-8) and its relationship to zinc and copper in both plasma and liver of thioacetamide-induced liver cirrhosis has not been investigated. Cirrhosis was induced in animals using thioacetamide in drinking water. Animals were divided into six groups: Group 1 was the normal control group (did not receive thioacetamide); Group 2 consisted of cirrhotic animals that continued to receive thioacetamide in drinking water; Group 3 consisted of cirrhotic animals treated with selenium; Group 4 consisted of cirrhotic animals that received only plain tap water; Group 5 consisted of cirrhotic animals treated with zinc; Group 6 consisted of cirrhotic animals treated with allopurinol. Plasma (IL-8) increased significantly in cirrhotic (group 2) and in cirrhotic animals treated with water (group 4). This level became normal in animals subjected to zinc, selenium, and allopurinol treatment. The plasma zinc level decreased significantly in cirrhotic animals (group 2) and in cirrhotic animals treated with water (group 4). The plasma copper/zinc ratio was significantly higher in cirrhotic animals treated with water. Liver zinc content decreased significantly in all experimental groups except in the group of animals subjected to zinc therapy (group 5), while liver copper content was only significantly lower in the cirrhotic group (group 2). Liver copper/zinc ratio was significantly lower in the cirrhotic group and higher in cirrhotic animals treated with selenium, water, and allopurinol. Histopathological assessment of the liver showed an improvement in animals treated with selenium, zinc, and allopurinol. Negative correlation was noticed between IL-8 and copper zinc contents in the liver of control subjects (group 1) and with the zinc contents of the liver in the thioacetamide group (group 2). IL-8 may act as a good diagnostic and prognostic parameter in evaluating the severity of liver damage. Furthermore, zinc, selenium, and allopurinol have the ability to decrease production of IL-8 in cirrhotic animals. They can also normalize the plasma zinc and plasma copper-zinc ratio with an improvement in the histopathological pattern of liver cirrhosis caused by thioacetamide toxicity.