Preconditioning protects against ischemia/reperfusion injury of the liver

Ischemic preconditioning (IPC) of an organ may induce protection against the injury caused by longer duration of ischemia and subsequent reperfusion. In a standardized model of such injury in the rat liver, we used the following protocol to investigate whether adenosine played a role in IPC by preventing its enzymatic degradation by dipyridamole pretreatment according to the following protocol: group 1, non-ischemic control rats; group 2, ischemic control rats subjected to 60 minutes of ischemia by clamping of the common hepatic artery followed by 60 minutes of reperfusion; group 3, IPC with 10 minutes of ischemia followed by 15 minutes of reperfusion, prior to the ischemia/reperfusion period as in group 2; group 4, pharmacologic preconditioning with administration of dipyridamole prior to the ischemia/reperfusion period as in group 2. Peripheral liver blood flow was significantly reduced during clamping (groups 2 to 4). After unclamping, blood flow was still reduced in the ischemic rats (group 2) but had returned to preclamp values in the animals that had been subjected to ischemic (group 3) or pharmacologic (group 4) preconditioning. Liver cell injury was significantly increased in the ischemia group (group 2) only. In our experimental model of ischemia/reperfusion injury in the rat liver, we found an equally beneficial effect with ischemic and pharmacologic preconditioning. Adenosine appears to be a crucial factor in IPC.     

不同时限缺血预处理对硬化肝脏保护作用的实验研究

目的: 探讨缺血预处理对硬化肝脏缺血再灌注的作用,并寻找一种有效缺血预处理的时间窗和理想方案. 方法: 将64只雄性、肝硬化SD大鼠随机分为八组,每组八只:假手术组(SO组);缺血再灌注组(I/R组);缺血预处理1、2、3、4、5和6组(IPC1、IPC2、IPC3、IPC4、IPC5和IPC6).以肝组织ATP、ADP、AMP及EC(用高效液相色谱法测定),血清ALT、AST、LDH(用全自动生化仪测定)和肝脏胆汁分泌量来评价肝功能. 结果: 再灌注末,IPC3组、IPC4组、IPC5组ATP含量均明显高于I/R组(P分别为0.01、0.07和0.000);同样,测定EC时发现,IPC3组、IPC4组和IPC5组均明显高于I/R组(P=0.000).与I/R组比较,IPC4组和IPC5组的血清ALT差异有显著性(P分别为0.013和0.000);其血清LDH差异亦有显著性(P=0.023,P=0.000),而血清AST却只有IPC5组显著低于I/R组(P=0.001).IPC3组、IPC4组和IPC5组肝脏的胆汁分泌量明显高于I/R组(P=0.028,P=0.023,P=0.008). 结论: 5~10min予一次或两次缺血预处理,能启动IPC对肝硬化大鼠肝脏I/R损伤的保护作用;10 min的缺血预处理,对肝硬化大鼠肝脏I/R损伤的保护作用最强.     

Ischemic Preconditioning Protects the Pig Liver by Preserving the Mitochondrial Structure and Downregulating Caspase-3 Activity

Summary Background Data: The beneficial effects of ischemic preconditioning (IPC) on hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury (I/RI) have been described. However, the way in which IPC causes the changes in mitochondrial ultrastructure seen in hepatic I/RI is not well understood. Objective: The objective of the present study was to determine whether IPC protects the liver from changes in mitochondrial structure and caspase 3 activity in the early phase of post-ischemic injury. Methods: A pig model consisting of 90 min of hepatic ischemia and 180 min of reperfusion was employed. Eighteen female pigs were randomly divided into three groups: sham-operated, non-preconditioned, and ischemic preconditioned (10 min ischemia followed by 10 min reperfusion). Serum concentrations of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), as well as bile flow, were measured. Liver biopsies were taken after reperfusion for histological, immunohistochemical (anti-caspase 3), and ultrastructural examinations. Results: The IPC procedure increased bile flow (p < 0.01), reduced serum AST level (p < 0.01), and reduced serum concentration of TBARS at 180 min of reperfusion (p = 0.05). Ischemic-preconditioned liver cells had less caspase 3 activity than the non-preconditioning group (p < 0.01), and changes in mitochondrial ultrastructure were reduced (p < 0.01). Conclusion: IPC exerts a powerful protective effect against hepatic I/RI in the early phase of reperfusion, which may be mediated by preservation of mitochondrial structure and inhibition of caspase-3 activity.     

Delayed energy protection of ischemic preconditioning on hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats

BACKGROUND: Hepatic ischemia/reperfusion (IR) injuries associated with hepatic resections are unresolved problems in the clinical practice. The aim of this study is to elucidate the effect of ischemic preconditioning (IPC) on the energy charge (EC) and related mechanisms at the late phase of hepatic IR injury. METHODS: 30 Wistar rats were randomly divided into sham, IR and IPC groups. The model of partial hepatic IR was used. The rats were subjected to 60 min hepatic ischemia, pretreated by IPC (10/15 min) or not. After 24 h of reperfusion, serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), nitrite/nitrate (NOx), malondialdehyde (MDA), hepatic tissue arginase activity, adenosine triphosphate (ATP), adenosine diphosphate (ADP), adenosine monophosphate (AMP) and EC of the liver were measured. RESULTS: Liver injury reduced by IPC is measured by liver tissue arginase activity and serum ALT. Tissue NOx levels in rats pretreated with IPC were significantly higher than levels in the IR group (p < 0.001). Tissue levels of MDA in the liver of the IPC group were found to be significantly lower than the levels in the IR group (p < 0.001). ATP and EC levels 24 h after hepatic ischemia in rats pretreated with IPC were higher than the levels in the IR (p < 0.05). All groups had similar ADP and AMP levels in the liver tissues. The IPC procedure significantly reduced the hepatic necrosis (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The results of this study demonstrated that pretreatment with IPC improved tissue ATP, EC, and hepatic necrosis at late stages of ischemia reperfusion injury of the liver. Increased nitric oxide, reduced MDA and arginase activity seemed to play a regulatory role in this delayed protective effect of IPC.     

Ischemic limb preconditioning downregulates systemic inflammatory activation

We examined local and systemic antiinflammatory consequences of ischemic preconditioning (IPC) in a rat model of limb ischemia‐reperfusion (I‐R) by characterizing the leukocyte‐endothelial interactions in the periosteum and the expression of adhesion molecules playing a role in leukocyte‐mediated inflammatory processes. IPC induction (2 cycles of 10 min of complete limb ischemia and 10 min of reperfusion) was followed by 60 min of ischemia/180 min of reperfusion or sham‐operation. Data were compared with those on animals subjected to I‐R and sham‐operation. Neutrophil leukocyte‐endothelial cell interactions (intravital videomicroscopy), intravascular neutrophil activation (CD11b expression changes by flow cytometry), and soluble and tissue intercellular adhesion molecule‐1 (ICAM‐1; ELISA and immunohistochemistry, respectively) expressions were assessed. I‐R induced enhanced leukocyte rolling and adherence in the periosteal postcapillary venules after 120 and 180 min of reperfusion. This was associated with a significantly enhanced CD11b expression (by ～80% and 72%, respectively) and moderately increased soluble and periosteal ICAM‐1 expressions. IPC prevented the I‐R–induced increases in leukocyte adherence and CD11b expression without influencing the soluble and tissue ICAM‐1 levels. The results show that limb IPC exerts not only local, but distant antiinflammatory effects through significant modulation of neutrophil recruitment. © 2009 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 27: 897–902, 2009     

Effects of ischemic preconditioning on regenerative capacity of hepatocyte in the ischemically damaged rat livers

BACKGROUND: Liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy is regulated by several factors that activate or inhibit hepatocyte proliferation. A short period of ischemia-reperfusion (IR), called ischemic preconditioning (IPC), protects the liver against subsequent sustained ischemic insults. The present study investigated the effects of IPC on liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy under IR in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Male Wistar rats were subjected to 45 min of total hepatic ischemia, and 70% hepatectomy was performed just before reperfusion. Animals were pre-treated with either IPC (10/15 min) (IPC + PHx group) or not (ischemia + PHx). The survival rate, serum transaminases, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, and interleukin (IL)-6 levels, hepatocyte proliferation and histological change of the remnant liver were measured in both groups and compared with non-ischemic controls subjected to 70% hepatectomy alone (PHx group). RESULTS: The survival rate was significantly better in the IPC + PHx group than in the ischemia + PHx group. Furthermore, IPC reduced liver injury determined by liver histology and serum transaminases. There was an early rise in serum TNF-alpha and IL-6 levels in the ischemia + PHx group. Compared with non-ischemic controls, IPC significantly decreased TNF-alpha, but not IL-6 during the late (24 and 48 h) phases of reperfusion. Rats subjected to 70% hepatectomy and 45 min of hepatic ischemia showed significantly reduced hepatocyte proliferation (mitotic index, proliferating cell nuclear antigen, and relative liver weight) when compared with animals subjected to hepatectomy alone. However, hepatocyte proliferation was markedly increased in rats pretreatment with IPC when compared with ischemic controls. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that ischemic pre-conditioning ameliorates the hepatic injury associated with ischemia-reperfusion and has a stimulatory effect on liver cell regeneration that may make it valuable as a hepatoprotective modality. Il-6 appears to be key mediator in promoting regeneration after combined ischemia and hepatic resection.     

Ischemic preconditioning prevents apoptotic cell death and necrosis in early and intermediate phases of liver ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats.

Ischemic preconditioning (IPC) may be useful in attenuating the hepatic ischemia reperfusion (IR) syndrome by means of improving cell resistance to anoxia and reoxygenation and preventing cell death. Since there are insufficient data available regarding the chronology of preconditioning effects, we investigated the role of IPC, to test the hypothesis that liver protection would occur during the early and intermediate phases of the reperfusion period. Wistar rats (n = 72) were randomly assigned into six experimental groups, 12 animals each. A 40-min ischemia to the left lateral and median liver lobes was induced by selective hepatic pedicle clamping followed by 30 min or 240 min of reperfusion (IR30 and IR240). IPC groups (IPC30 and IPC240) underwent a 10 min of ischemia followed by 10 min of reperfusion preceding the definitive 40-min ischemic period. Sham-operated animals were followed for 30 and 240 min. Hepatic enzymes and histological evaluation were performed after the reperfusion period. Hepatic ischemia-reperfusion (IR30 and IR240) induced marked increases in liver enzymes levels after 30 min and particularly after 240 min. IPC effectively attenuated those enzymatic increases. Microvesicular steatosis was observed after 30 min, but not 240 min, of reperfusion in both IPC and IR livers. Necrosis was detected in 66.7% of IR240 and only in 8.3% of IPC240. Both hepatocyte and sinusoidal apoptosis were markedly attenuated by IPC. We conclude that IPC provided protection against hepatic ischemia reperfusion injury in early and intermediate phases of the reperfusion period, reducing hepatic enzymatic leakage and ameliorating hepatic apoptosis and necrosis.     

缺血预处理对大鼠肝脏缺血再灌注损伤保护作用机制的研究

目的　探讨缺血预处理 (IPC)保护作用的发生机制。方法　建立大鼠部分肝脏热缺血再灌注模型。IPC采用肝脏缺血 10min ,再灌注 10min。结果　IPC后肝组织中腺苷和NO水平明显升高 ,与对照组相比差异显著 (P <0 0 1) ,但IPC前应用腺苷A2 受体拮抗剂后NO的升高被抑制 (P<0 0 1)。缺血再灌注 (I/R) 2h后血清中TNF α、AST、ALT、LDH及W/D水平和假手术组相比明显增加 ,而IL 10含量降低 (P <0 0 1) ;IPC、I/R前加入腺苷、IPC前应用腺苷A1受体拮抗剂显著地降低TNF α释放和AST、ALT、LDH及W /D水平 ,提高IL 10含量 ,与I/R组相比差异显著 (P <0 0 1) ;但IPC前应用腺苷A2 受体拮抗剂 (IPC +A2 antag)和NO合成酶抑制剂NAME并没有能像IPC组那样有效降低TNF α、AST、ALT、LDH及W /D的水平 ,提高IL 10的含量 (P <0 0 1) ;而IPC前给IPC+A2 antag组提供NO前体精氨酸又获得和IPC组同样的结果 (P >0 0 5 )。结论　IPC引起细胞外腺苷水平升高 ,腺苷A2 受体活化 ,介导了NO合成增加 ,最终通过抑制效应器TNF α的释放、增加IL 10的合成来实现对缺血组织的保护作用。     

Differences in prolonged ischemia length using ischemic preconditioning in the rabbit heart. Tolerable limitation time for surgically induced myocardial ischemia during normothermic cardiac operation

BACKGROUND: To determine the effect of the tolerable limitation time of prolonged ischemia after ischemic preconditioning on postischemic functional recovery and infarct size reduction in the rabbit heart. METHODS: White rabbits (n=30) were used for Langendorff perfusion. Control hearts were perfused at 37 degrees C for 180 min; 30 min global ischemia hearts (30GI) received 30 min global ischemia and 120 min reperfusion; IPC+30GI hearts received 5 min zero flow global ischemia and 5 min reperfusion prior to 30 min global ischemia; 20 min global ischemia hearts (20GI) received 20 min global ischemia and 120 min reperfusion; IPC+20GI hearts received 5 min zero flow global ischemia and 5 min reperfusion prior to 20 min global ischemia. RESULTS: Infarct size in the 30GI hearts was 33.5+/-4.0% and 1.7+/-0.5% in the control hearts. The 20GI hearts and IPC+30GI hearts decreased infarct size, as compared with the 30GI hearts (13.0+/-1.8% and 16.6+/-1.7%, respectively; p<0.001, 20GI vs 30GI; p<0.01, IPC+30GI vs 30GI; p>0.05, 20GI vs IPC+30GI) but did not enhance postischemic functional recovery. The IPC+20GI hearts (3.5+/-0.6%) significantly decreased infarct size as compared with the 20GI hearts (p<0.05, IPC+20GI vs 20GI), and there was no significant difference between the IPC+20GI and the control hearts (p>0.05), but the IPC+20GI hearts did not enhance postischemic functional recovery. CONCLUSIONS: A 20 min ischemia may be the tolerable limitation time of prolonged ischemia after ischemic preconditioning in an isolated rabbit heart model.     

缺血预处理对大鼠肝脏缺血/再灌注损伤的延迟保护作用及机制

目的 研究缺血预处理(IPC)对大鼠肝脏缺血/再灌注损伤的延迟保护作用,并探讨线柱体ATP敏感性钾通道(mitoKATP通道)在这种保护机制中的作用. 方法 SD大鼠随机分为5组(每组8只).IPC组以肝缺血5 min作预处理;DE组以静脉注射mitoKATP通道选择性开放剂二氮嗪(DE)作为预处理;IPC+5-HD组是在IPC组基础上再予静注mitoKATP通道特异性阻滞剂5-hydroxydecanoate(5-HD)进行预处理;对照组(C组)仅以静注等量生理盐水作为预处理;上述4组均在预处理24 h后行肝缺血1 h再灌注3 h,缺血方式均为70%肝脏热缺血.假手术组(S组)仅行两次开腹手术,不作其它处理.完成预定实验操作后取血用于血清谷丙转氨酶(ALT)与乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)检测,切取肝组织用于测定超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性、丙二醛(MDA)含量、湿重/干重(W/D)及观察显微及超微结构变化. 结果 C组ALT,LDH,MDA及W/D值明显高于S组(P<0.01),而SOD活性明显低于S组(P<0.01),肝脏的显微及超微结构损伤明显;IPC组与DE组的各项肝损伤指标均明显好于C组(P<0.05及P<0.01);IPC+5-HD组的肝损伤指标均差于IPC组(P<0.05及P<0.01). 结论 缺血预处理对正常大鼠肝脏I/R损伤具有延迟保护作用,肝细胞mitoKATP通道的开放在其中发挥了重要作用,作用途径可能与诱导肝脏SOD活性增加,改善肝组织微循环,减轻肝脏水肿有关.     

Ischemic pre-conditioning of 5 minutes but not of 10 minutes improves lung function after warm ischemia in a canine model.

BACKGROUND: Protection from reperfusion injury by ischemic pre-conditioning (IPC) before prolonged ischemia has been proven for the heart and the liver. We now assess the efficacy of IPC to protect lungs from reperfusion injury. METHODS: Eighteen foxhounds (25 to 30 kg) were anesthetized, intubated, and ventilated with a fraction of inspired oxygen of 0.3 at a volume-controlled mode to maintain arterial pCO2 of 30 to 40 mm Hg. After left thoracotomy, we performed warm ischemia for 3 hours by clamping the left hilus, and followed with 8 hours of reperfusion (control, n = 6). In the treated groups, IPC was performed either for 5 minutes followed by 15-minute reperfusion (n = 6, IPC-5), or by 2 successive cycles of 10-minute ischemia, followed by 10-minute reperfusion (n = 6, IPC-10) before prior to the 3-hours warm-ischemia period. Pulmonary compliance and gas exchange were determined separately for each lung, and we recorded pulmonary and systemic hemodynamics. We performed bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) at the end of the experiment and determined total protein concentration as well as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) mRNA expression in cell-free supernatant and in BAL cells, respectively. We also assessed the wet/dry ratio of the lung. RESULTS: In the controls, on reperfusion, we encountered a progressive deterioration of gas exchange, especially of the reperfused left lung, which we could largely avoid using the IPC-5 protocol. Similarly, pulmonary compliance steadily declined but was much better in the ICP-5 group. Parallel to the improvement of gas exchange and lung mechanics, we found less total alveolar protein content and TNF-alpha mRNA expression in BAL cells in the IPC-5 than in the controls. However, we did not find IPC-10 to be paralleled by a significant improvement of lung function. Neither IPC-5 nor IPC-10 influenced the pulmonary vascular resistance index or the fluid accumulation in the lung. CONCLUSION: The major finding of the present study was that 5 minutes of IPC improved lung function after 3 hours of warm ischemia of the lung.     

Ischemic preconditioning of skeletal muscle improves tissue oxygenation during reperfusion

Ischemic preconditioning (IPC) renders tissue resistant to the deleterious effects of prolonged ischemia and reperfusion by prior exposure to brief, repeated periods of vascular occlusion. Although the mechanism by which IPC exerts its effect is unclear, it likely mediates an attenuation in capillary no-reflow. Tissue oximetry provides a potential technique to assess microvascular flow during ischemia/reperfusion and to measure the effect of IPC on muscle tissue oxygenation. The authors aimed to (a) establish that tissue oximetry is a sensitive method to assess the "no-reflow" phenomenon in skeletal muscle; and (b) to test the hypothesis that IPC would increase tissue oxygenation during reperfusion. In Group 1 (n = 5), the rabbit rectus femoris muscle was subjected to 2-hr ischemia. In Group 2 (n = 5), the muscle was subjected to 3.5-hr ischemia. In Group 3 (n = 6) the muscle was subjected to 3.5-hr ischemia preceded by three cycles of 10 min of pedicle occlusion and 10 min of reperfusion. Muscle oxygen tension was continuously monitored during the ischemic interval and for 6 hr of reperfusion. It was found that muscle oxygen tension in the flap at 5, 10, 30, 60, and 360 min after reperfusion was significantly decreased after 3.5-hr ischemia, compared with 2-hr ischemia (p < 0.05). Muscle oxygen tension at 30 and 60 min after reperfusion was significantly improved in the preconditioned group (p < 0.05). The results suggest that tissue oximetry is a sensitive method to assess tissue perfusion in reperfused skeletal muscle. Ischemic preconditioning improves tissue oxygenation during reperfusion following prolonged ischemia, which likely reflects an attenuation in capillary no-reflow.     

Protective effect of ischemic preconditioning against intermittent warm-ischemia-induced liver injury

BACKGROUND: Although ischemic preconditioning (IPC) has been reported to protect the liver from injury when subjected to continuous hepatic ischemia, whether IPC protects rat livers against ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury after intermittent ischemia has not been elucidated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five groups of Wistar rats were subjected to intermittent hepatic ischemia (I) comprising 15-min ischemia and 5-min reperfusion three times with or without prior IPC (10-min ischemia and 10-min reperfusion), 45-min continuous ischemia (C) with or without IPC, and sham operation. Serum transaminase and lactic acid levels, hepatic tissue energy charges, and hepatic blood perfusion were measured after reperfusion. Plasma tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) levels were determined after reperfusion for 120 min. Histological and apoptotic findings were evaluated after reperfusion for 180 min. RESULTS: IPC significantly reduced serum transaminase levels after continuous and intermittent ischemia (IPC + C, 1107 vs C, 2684 IU/l; IPC + I, 708 vs I, 1859 IU/l). After hepatic ischemia without IPC, apoptosis and necrosis with increased plasma TNF-alpha levels were observed. IPC protected livers from injury by interfering with the increase in plasma TNF-alpha (IPC + I, 27.6 vs I, 64.8 pg/ml; IPC + C, 21.6 vs C, 49.3 pg/ml). This resulted in the attenuation of hepatic necrosis after continuous ischemia and significantly reduced necrosis and apoptosis after intermittent ischemia. CONCLUSIONS: IPC exerts a greater protective effect against hepatic I/R injury after intermittent hepatic ischemia than after continuous hepatic ischemia.     

Role of PKC in the late phase of microvascular protection induced by preconditioning

INTRODUCTION: We hypothesized that the late phase of microvascular protection induced by ischemic preconditioning or by adenosine is protein kinase C (PKC) dependent. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The cremaster muscle of male Sprague-Dawley rats underwent 45 min of ischemic preconditioning and, 24 h later, 4 h of warm ischemia followed by 60 min of reperfusion. To mimic the effects of IPC, adenosine (ADO; an adenosine receptor agonist) or 4-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA; a PKC activator) was delivered to the vascular network of the cremaster 24 h before the prolonged ischemia via local intra-arterial infusion. To block the microvascular protection induced by ADO or IPC, chelerythrine (CHE; a PKC blocker) was given by local intra-arterial infusion prior to the administration of ADO or the initiation of IPC. Microvascular responses in the cremaster muscle to ischemic preconditioning or pharmacological preconditioning were determined by measuring terminal arteriole diameter and capillary perfusion using intravital microscopy and by the evaluation of the endothelium-dependent nitric oxide system in terminal arterioles. RESULTS: Blockade of PKC using CHE on day 1 eliminated both ADO- and IPC-induced microvascular protections seen on day 2. However, the microvascular protection induced by the administration of PMA (without IPC) that was given 24 h before the 4 h of warm ischemia/reperfusion was significantly better than the control group response (sham IPC), but was not as good as the protection induced by IPC or ADO alone. CONCLUSION: The overall results from these studies suggest that ischemic or ADO preconditioning induces late-phase microvascular protection in skeletal muscle by a PKC-dependent mechanism.     

Influence of ischemic preconditioning and nitric oxide on microcirculation and the degree of rat liver injury in the model of ischemia and reperfusion

The aim of this study was to assess the influence of ischemic preconditioning (IPC) on parenchymal liver blood flow during the early phase of reperfusion after 60 minutes of ischemia, additionally modified by adding N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME). Our research involved 4 groups of rats (10 animals in each group), which underwent liver ischemia and 24 hours of reperfusion. Group I, ischemia/reperfusion (IR) was performed; group II, IPC, 10 minutes of ischemia and 10 minutes of reperfusion, and IR after that; group III, L-NAME (10 mg/kg intravenous [iv]), 10 minutes before IR; and group IV, L-NAME before IPC + IR. Activity of APAT, ALAT, GGTP, and FA was marked in serum in 90 minutes and 24 hours of reperfusion. In the liver biopsies at 24 hours of reperfusion, we analyzed reaction on adenosine-3-phosphatase stimulated by Mg++ and performed histological examination. The parenchymal perfusion was measured using a laser-doppler blood flowmeter (model PeriFlux System5000, Perimed Inc., United Kingdom). IPC during reperfusion led to minor injuries of the organ, with statistically significant normalization of enzymes compared with group 1, and a better reaction to the adenosine-3-phosphatase IPC produced faster and full return of perfusion to the 68.3 value at 24 hours (59.1 in the 60 minutes). In groups III and IV at 60 minutes, the perfusion was not statistically different from that in group 1. IPC causes full and faster blood return in the early phase of reperfusion and minor injury of liver parenchyma and liver sinus. The protective effect observed, especially in the first 60 minutes of reperfusion, was limited by L-NAME and was influenced by the action of nitric oxide.     

Ischemic Preconditioning Confers Antiapoptotic Protection During Major Hepatectomies Performed Under Combined Inflow and Outflow Exclusion of the Liver. A Randomized Clinical Trial

Background  Extensive experimental studies and a few clinical series have shown that ischemic preconditioning (IPC) attenuates oxidative ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injuries in liver resections performed under inflow vascular control. Selective hepatic vascular exclusion (SHVE) employed during hepatectomies completely deprives the liver of blood flow, as it entails simultaneous clamping of the portal triad and the main hepatic veins. The aim of the present study was to identify whether IPC can also protect hepatocytes during liver resections performed under SHVE. Methods  Patients undergoing major liver resection were randomly assigned to have either only SHVE (control group, n = 43) or SHVE combined with IPC—10 min of ischemia followed by 15 min of reperfusion before SHVE was applied (IPC group, n = 41). Results  The two groups were comparable with regard to age, liver resection volume, blood loss and transfusions, warm ischemic time, and total operative time. In liver remnant biopsies obtained 60 min post-reperfusion, IPC patients had significantly fewer cells stained positive by TUNEL compared to controls (19% ± 8% versus 45% ± 12%; p < 0.05). Also IPC patients had attenuated hepatocyte necrosis, systemic inflammatory response, and oxidative stress as manifested by lower postoperative peak values of aspartate transaminase, interleukin-6, interleukin-8, and malondialdehyde compared to controls. Morbidity was similar for the two groups, as were duration of intensive care unit stay and extent of total hospital stay. Conclusions  In major hepatectomies performed under SHVE, ischemic preconditioning appears to attenuate apoptotic response of the liver remnant, possibly through alteration of inflammatory and oxidative pathways. A preliminary report of this study was awarded the ISS/SIC (International Society of Surgery/Société Internationale de Chirugie) Lloyd Nyhus Prize for the best free paper in gastrointestinal surgery during the International Surgical Week and the 41st World Congress of Surgery of ISS/SIC in Durban, South Africa, August 2005.     

缺血预处理抗大鼠肠缺血再灌注肠黏膜损伤的蛋白质组学研究

目的采用蛋白质组研究技术分离、鉴定缺血预处理（IPC）抗大鼠肠缺血再灌注（Ⅱ／R）肠黏膜损伤相关蛋白,探讨其肠保护分子机制。方法将16只SD大鼠,随机分为Ⅱ／R组和IPC组。Ⅱ／R组阻断肠系膜上动脉60min后再开放60min;IPC组在阻断肠系膜上动脉前先阻断20min后再开放5min。余同Ⅱ／R组。再灌注结束即刻刮取肠黏膜,利用高分辨双向电泳对肠黏膜组织进行蛋白质分离．Image Master 2D Elite 5．0图像软件进行分析。应用基质辅助电离解析飞行时间质谱获取肽质量指纹图谱．检索数据库鉴定表达差异的蛋白质,明确其生物学功能。结果双向电泳发现,Ⅱ／R组及IPC组分别有蛋白质点（1404±20）个和（1338±20）个。10个点进行质谱分析,8个蛋白质点经过检索与已知蛋白质匹配．这些蛋白功能涉及到抗氧化、抑制凋亡及改善能量代谢。RT-PCR分析提示IPC上调醛糖还原酶的表达。Western blot分析提示IPC上调醛脱氢酶的表达。结论比较蛋白组学研究揭示IPC对肠缺血再灌注损伤的保护机制可能与其上调了一些具有抗氧化、抑制细胞凋亡及改善能量代谢作用的蛋白有关。     

α-Gluthathione S-Transferase as an Early Marker of Hepatic Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury after Liver Resection

Organ dysfunction following liver resection is one of the major postoperative complications of liver surgery. The Pringle maneuver is often applied during liver resection to minimize bleeding, which in turn complicates the postoperative course owing to liver ischemia and reperfusion. Routinely, hepatocellular damage is diagnosed by, for example, abnormal aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels and the prothrombin time (PT). The cytosolic liver enzyme α-glutathione S-transferase (α-GST) has recently been shown to have good sensitivity for detecting hepatic injury after acetaminophen poisoning or liver transplantation, but its role in non-transplantation liver surgery has not been assessed. In this prospective randomized clinical study, the diagnostic role of plasma α-GST following warm ischemia and reperfusion is reported. A total of 75 patients who underwent liver resection were randomly assigned to three groups: (1) without Pringle (NPR); (2) with Pringle (PR); (3) with ischemic preconditioning by 10 minutes of ischemia and reperfusion each prior to the Pringle manuever (IPC). The major findings are as follows: (1) ALT, AST, and α-GST increased upon liver manipulation as early as prior to resection, with a rapid return of α-GST values to preoperative levels, whereas ALT and AST further increased on the first postoperative day. (2) In the PR group, α-GST, but not ALT and AST, was significantly elevated compared with that in the NPR group at 15 and 30 minutes and 2 hours after resection/reperfusion. In addition, only levels of α-GST significantly correlated with the Pringle duration. (3) The ischemia/reperfusion-induced early rise in α-GST was completely prevented by ischemic preconditioning. Moreover, only α-GST concentrations (>490 μg L⁻¹) determined early after resection (2 hours) predicted postoperative liver dysfunction (24 hours PT < 60%) with a positive predictive value of 74% and a negative predictive value of 76%. Thus α-GST seems to be a sensitive, predictive marker of ischemia/reperfusion-induced hepatocellular injury and postoperative liver dysfunction.     

Ischemic preconditioning fails to improve microcirculation but increases apoptotic cell death in experimental pancreas transplantation

Brief periods of warm ischemia and subsequent short reperfusion before either long-term cold or warm ischemic insult (ischemic preconditioning, IPC) have proven to ameliorate ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in various organs, such as the liver and lung. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of IPC on pancreatic cell apoptosis and microcirculatory impairments in experimental pancreas transplantation. Male Lewis rats served as donors and recipients of heterotopic syngeneic pancreaticoduodenal transplantation. Recipient animals were divided into two experimental groups: group Tx (n=7) received grafts without IPC, group Tx&IPC received grafts with IPC. Animals that had not undergone transplantation but whose pancreata had been exteriorized served as controls (n=5). All pancreatic grafts were preserved in University of Wisconsin solution for 6 h at 4°C. IPC was induced by interruption of the arterial blood flow for 10 min followed by 10 min of reperfusion. One and two hours after reperfusion, graft microcirculation was assessed by means of intravital microscopy (IVM). Rats were immediately killed after the second measurement and DNA breaks of acinar cells were detected by in situ terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate digoxigenin nick end-labelling (TUNEL) assay and gel electrophoresis (laddering). The apoptotic index (AI) was defined as the number of apoptotic cells per high-power field. Analysis of both groups of transplanted grafts showed a significant decrease in functional capillary density (FCD) and a significant increase in leukocyte sticking to postcapillary venules (LAV) at 1 h and 2 h of reperfusion, compared with animals that had not undergone transplantation (P<0.01). In parallel, AI was significantly increased in transplanted grafts compared to the controls (P<0.01). Grafts subjected to IPC showed no significant differences, neither for FCD nor LAV, at both time points if compared with grafts of group Tx. However, IPC resulted in a significant increase in AI (P<0.05). We can conclude that IPC has no effect on pancreatic microcirculation but enhances acinar cell apoptosis in experimental pancreas transplantation. These results indicate that IPC might increase I/R injury after pancreatic cold ischemia.     

Bile duct exclusion from selective vascular inflow occlusion in rat liver: role of ischemic preconditioning and N-acetylcysteine on hepatic reperfusion injury

AIM: To study the effects of N-acetylcysteine and ischemic preconditioning on the portal triad clamping compared to arterial and portal clamping alone. METHODS: Eighty EPM 1-Wistar rats were randomized into two groups, depending on inclusion (Group 1) or not (Group 2) of the bile duct in the hepatic vascular pedicle occlusion. Each group was divided into four subgroups as follows. IR 1: 20 minutes after celiotomy, the pedicle containing vascular elements and bile duct to the left lateral and median liver lobes was occluded for 40 minutes, followed by 30 minutes of reperfusion. IPC 1: after 10 minutes of ischemia and 10 minutes of reperfusion, the ischemic preconditioning period, the rats were submitted to the same procedure described for IR 1 Group. NAC 1: the rats received N-acetylcysteine (150 mg/kg) 15 minutes before 40 minutes of ischemia and 5 minutes before 30 minutes of reperfusion. SHAM 1: The hepatic pedicle for the lateral and median liver lobes was dissected after 20 minutes, the bile duct alone was clamped for 40 minutes, and released for an additional 30 minutes. In the IR 2, IPC 2, and NAC 2 groups, ischemia was achieved with an exclusive vascular occlusion. SHAM 2: dissection and observation for 90 minutes. The blood was sampled for liver enzyme levels. Statistical analysis was done (P 相似文献