Finally, we detected the hepatocyte proliferation, cell cycle entry, and apoptosis.<b>Results:</b> ALF rats displayed a lower positive expression of A20 protein and a higher expression of Caspase-3 protein.
In addition, we show that hepatocellular apoptosis rather than necrosis was the major cause of ALF-induced animal death, and that the anti-apoptosis role of rhIL-1Ra was mediated by reducing the release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria, and the activities of caspase-3, caspase-8 and caspase-9 in the liver tissue.