Fig. 2.

Serum TNF-α levels in LPS/D-GalN-induced ALF group and controls. Serum TNF-α levels were increased in response to LPS/D-GalN stimulation, reaching a maximum at 2 h post injection, followed by a gradual decrease at 6 and 9 h and reaching normal values at 12 and 24 h. In the LPS control group, serum TNF-α levels peaked at 2 h and declined markedly to a normal level at 6 h. There were no differences in serum TNF-α level between D-GalN and saline controls. Data represent the mean ± SEM (n = 5). *P < 0.05 vs. N.S. group. **P < 0.01 vs. N.S. group. ALF acute liver failure, N.S. normal saline, D-GalN d-galactosamine hydrochloride, LPS lipopolysaccharide, TNF-α tumor necrosis factor-alpha