Objective To investigate the methods for establishing a rat model of early- stage liver failure and the changes in Th17,Treg,and Th17 / Treg after dexamethasone and thymosin interventions. Methods A total of 64 rats were randomly divided into carbon tetrachloride( CCl4) group and endotoxin [lipopolysaccharide( LPS) ]/D- galactosamine( D- Gal N) combination group to establish the rat model of early- stage liver failure. The activities of the rats and changes in liver function and whole blood Th17 and Treg were observed to evaluate the effectiveness of the rat model. Dexamethasone and thymosin were used for intervention and related effects were observed. The t- test was used for comparison of continuous data between groups,and the paired t- test was used for comparison of continuous data within one group.Results The serum levels of alanine aminotransferase,aspartate aminotransferase,and total bilirubin showed significant increases in the model groups and were significantly different from those in the control group( CCl4group: t =- 3. 95,- 3. 60,and- 3. 57,P = 0. 006,0. 009,and 0. 009; LPS / D- Gal N combination group: t =- 10. 56,- 9. 63,and- 11. 82,all P < 0. 001). After the model was established,the rats showed an increase in Th17,a reduction in Treg,and Th17 / Treg imbalance. The liver pathology in the rats in the model groups was consistent with the changes in early- stage liver failure. After dexamethasone intervention,the rats showed a reduction in Th17( CCl4group: 0. 830 ± 0. 224 vs 0. 580 ± 0. 105,t = 3. 25,P = 0. 014; LPS / D- Gal N combination group: 1. 301 ± 0. 163 vs 0. 921 ±0. 141,t = 4. 12,P = 0. 004),an increase in Treg( CCl4group: 0. 317 ± 0. 076 vs 0. 385 ± 0. 083,t =- 11. 13,P < 0. 001; LPS / D-Gal N combination group: 0. 351 ± 0. 110 vs 0. 570 ± 0. 119,t =- 4. 06,P = 0. 005),and Th17 / Treg rebalance( CCl4group: 2. 201 ±0. 556 vs 1. 511 ± 0. 534,t = 3. 56,P = 0. 09; LPS / D- Gal N combination group: 3. 699 ± 0. 976 vs 1. 619 ± 0. 423,t = 3. 82,P = 0. 07).After thymosin intervention,the rats showed an increase in Th17( CCl4group: 1. 161 ± 0. 219 vs 1. 270 ± 0. 230,t =- 5. 74,P = 0. 001;LPS / D- Gal N combination group: 0. 451 ± 0. 095 vs 0. 929 ± 0. 130,t =- 8. 61,P < 0. 001),a reduction in Treg( CCl4group: 0. 643 ±0. 100 vs 0. 615 ± 0. 092,t = 2. 66,P = 0. 032; LPS / D- Gal N combination group: 0. 200 ± 0. 085 vs 0. 161 ± 0. 095,t = 3. 15,P =0. 016),and aggravation of Th17 / Treg imbalance( CCl4group: 1. 799 ± 0. 625 vs 2. 071 ± 0. 587,t =- 6. 47,P < 0. 001; LPS / D- Gal N combination group: 2. 244 ± 0. 634 vs 5. 770 ± 1. 455,t =- 11. 72,P < 0. 001). Conclusion The two methods of CCl4 and LPS / D-Gal N combination can successfully establish the rat model of early- stage liver failure with no deaths,and liver histological results and serum biochemical changes are in consistence with the changes in early- stage liver failure. Dexamethasone intervention helps to improve Th17 /Treg imbalance,while thymosin intervention causes aggravation of Th17 / Treg imbalance.
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