Figure 7. Pharmacologic intervention via inhibition of IL-1 signaling ameliorates ALD progression.
(A–C) WT mice were fed control or alcohol diet. At day 14 (A and B) or day 28 (C), mice were started on daily injections of IL-1Ra (anakinra; 25 mg/kg) or saline i.p. and sacrificed 2 weeks later. Liver histologies from days 14 and 28 were stained with H&E and Oil-red-O (A), and ALT was measured in the serum (B and C). (A and B) n = 5 (pair-fed saline and pair-fed IL-1Ra); 17 (EtOH-fed saline and EtOH-fed IL-1Ra). (C) n = 5 (pair-fed saline and pair-fed IL-1Ra); 9 (EtOH-fed saline and EtOH-fed IL-1Ra). *P < 0.05 vs. pair-fed. (D and E) WT mice were fed control or alcohol diet. After day 14, mice were started on daily injections of IL-1Ra or saline i.p. and sacrificed 5 weeks later. The progression of liver injury was evaluated by measuring serum ALT (D). Liver histologies from days 14 (week 2) and 49 (week 7) were stained with H&E and Oil-red-O (E). n = 5 (pair-fed saline and pair-fed IL-1Ra); 40 (EtOH-fed saline); 29 (EtOH-fed IL-1Ra). At the end of experiment (week 7), survival was 23% in the EtOH-fed saline group and 48% in the EtOH-fed IL-1Ra group (P = 0.036). *P < 0.05 vs. EtOH-fed IL-1Ra; #P<0.05 vs. week 2. Numbers in graphs denote P values. Original magnification, ×200.