Abstract
A human hepatoma cell line, Hep G2 cells, is reliable for the study of alcohol-induced hepatotoxicity. The aim of this study is to determine the relationship between TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\alpha}$ production and EtOH-induced cytotoxicity on Hep G2 cells. The cells were incubated with EtOH in the presence of Artemisia Capillaris Herba(AC) for 24 hours and in the absence of AC for 48 hours. Cytoviability and cytokines release were analyzed by MTT assay and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. After 24 hours of EtOH exposure, the cytoviability had markedly decreased, and the release of cytokines had increased. The increased amount of cytokines contributed to EtOH-induced cytotoxicity. Anti-TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-$1{\alpha}$ antibodies almost abolished it. Interestingly, EtOH-induced cytotoxicity and cytokines production were inhibited by AC. Moreover, when AC was used in combination with antibodies, there was a marked inhibition of EtOH-induced cytotoxicity. These results suggest that EtOH-induced cytotoxicity may regulate, by various factors, and AC may prevent the cytotoxicity through partial inhibition of the $TNF-{\alpha}$ and IL-$1{\alpha}$ secretion.