Expression of acute phase protein 24p3 in Con-A-induced autoimmune hepatitis

24p3 (also called SIP 24, uterocalin, neutrophil-gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), lipocalin 2, and siderocalin) is an acute phase protein induced under many inflammatory situations which regulates iron delivery and may play an important role in innate immunity. In this study, we examined whether 24p3 is induced in the course of Concanavalin- A (Con-A)-induced autoimmune hepatitis. Upon intravenous injection of Con-A into mice, 24p3 mRNA expression in the liver as detected by real-time quantitative RT-PCR was significantly increased by 20–28-fold. Lung and lymphoid tissues such as thymus, lymph nodes, and spleen were also found to maintain high levels of 24p3 mRNA. No induction of 24p3 mRNA was found in other tissues, including muscle, heart, brain, and kidney. Consistent with the PCR results, 24p3 protein levels detected by Western blot were increased in a time-dependent manner after Con-A injection. Our results showed that 24p3 expression is induced in Con-A-mediated acute liver failure at both transcriptional and translational levels. 24p3 might play a role in the feedback control to limit inflammation in the liver.