Graft-versus-host-induced cirrhosis: Possible mechanisms

✍ Scribed by Howard M. Shulman

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1987
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 285 KB
• Volume: 7
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0270-9139
• DOI: 10.1002/hep.1840070638

✦ Synopsis

tent of AST despite increasing serum levels of the enzyme. Such increased tissue levels of AST in animals despite increased serum levels after injury have been noted before and only unsatisfactorily explained, as perhaps reflecting rapid resynthesis of enzyme after leakage. This study is of clinical interest, since it has a bearing on liver injury that may be sustained in multiply exposed humans.

It is of biological interest that the hornet venom hepatotoxicity is the first documented instance of animal production of a hepatotoxic agent. Stinging insects and reptiles produce hemolytic and neurotoxins; plants, bacteria and fungi can produce hepatotoxins, but to my knowledge this is the first instance of an animal-produced hepatotoxin. There are undoubtedly others.