INTERLEUKIN 1-BETA MODULATES HEPATIC SYNTHESIS OF ALPHA-1-ACID GLYCOPROTEIN IN THE FETAL-RAT

The ability of the fetal rat to respond to interleukin 1β (IL1β) by expressing α1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) was investigated. Eight and 20 h after injection of 7 ng IL1β into 19-day fetuses, liver AGP mRNA increased by a factor of 66 and 82 respectively, while serum AGP levels increased by a factor of 3 and 5. Similar treatment of the mothers altered in the fetuses neither AGP serum levels nor the amount of liver AGP mRNA. The induction of AGP gene expression in the fetal liver in response to IL1β was similar to that observed in the adult liver. These results demonstrate that at day 19 the fetal rat liver has acquired a mature acute-phase system. © 1990.