The mechanism of liver injury in mice caused by lanthanoids.

It has been proven that higher dose of lanthanoid (Ln) can induce liver toxicities, but the mechanisms and the molecular pathogenesis are still unclear. In this study, LaCl₃, CeCl₃, and NdCl₃ at a higher dose of 20 mg/kg body weight was injected into the abdominal cavity of ICR mice for 14 consecutive days, and the inflammatory responses of liver of mice were investigated by histopathological test, real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) methods. The results showed the significant accumulation of Ln in the liver results in liver histopathological changes and, therefore, liver malfunctions. The real-time quantitative RT-PCR and ELISA analyses showed that Ln could significantly alter the mRNA and protein expressions of several inflammatory cytokines, including nucleic factor-κB, macrophage migration inhibitory factor, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, cross-reaction protein, interleukin-4, and interleukin-10. Our results also implied that the inflammatory responses and liver injury likely are caused by 4f shell and alterable valence properties of Ln-induced liver toxicity.