大鼠肝脏缺血-再灌注损伤时齐墩果酸对氧自由基的影响

目的 探讨齐墩果酸(OA)对大鼠肝脏缺血-再灌注损伤时氧自由基的影响.方法 128只雄性SD大鼠随机分为假手术组(SH组)、缺血-再灌注组(IR组)、羧甲基纤维素钠(CMC-Na组)和OA组.建立70%肝脏缺血-再灌注模型,测定肝脏缺血60 min再灌注0、3、6、12 h后血清ALT活性和肝组织丙二醛(MDA)水平、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性、谷胱甘肽(GSH)水平.结果 再灌注3、6、12 h,IR组、CMC-Na组、OA组血清ALT活性、肝组织MDA水平分别显著高于SH组(P<0.05),肝组织SOD活性、GSH水平分别明显低于SH组(P<0.05);OA组ALT活性、MDA水平分别较IR组和CMC-Na组明显降低(P<0.05),SOD活性和GSH水平分别较IR组和CMC-Na组显著升高(P<0.05).结论 OA对肝脏缺血-再灌注损伤具有一定保护作用,其抗肝脏缺血-再灌注损伤作用与抑制自由基的生成和释放有关.     

肝脏缺血再灌注时肝脏及小肠组织中MIP-1a、HIF-1a表达的相关性分析和意义探讨

目的 探讨SD大鼠肝脏缺血45 min后再灌注不同时限肝脏和小肠组织中MIP-1α和HIF-1α的不同表达、病理学变化及其意义.方法 将75只SD大鼠随机分为正常组、假手术组、缺血再灌注组,建立肝缺血再灌注模型,采用免疫组织化学方法检测MIP-1α及HIF-1α在肝脏缺血45 min再灌注0、3、12、24、72 h时肝脏、小肠中的表达,HE组织染色及电镜观察大体及显微组织学变化.结果 随着再灌注时限的延长,肝脏及小肠组织损伤加重,再灌注后24 h最严重.与正常组及假手术组相比,缺血再灌注组中MIP-1α和HIF-1α在肝脏及小肠组织中的表达显著升高(P<0.05).两者在肝脏中的表达12 h达顶峰,随后MIP-1α再灌注72 h时基本恢复至再灌注初期水平,而HIF-1α降至正常水平.MIP-1α和HIF-1α在小肠组织中的表达24 h达到峰值,再灌注72 h后降至再灌注初期水平.MIP-1α与HIF-1α表达有相关性(P<0.05).结论 肝脏缺血再灌注可以造成胃肠道组织的损伤;MIP-1α及HIF-1α均参与了肝脏缺血再灌注后的肝脏及胃肠道损伤,HIF-1α可能是MIP-1α表达的重要调节因子.     

缺血后处理在肝移植缺血-再灌注损伤中的作用

缺血-再灌注损伤是肝脏大手术(包括肝切除及肝移植)后不可避免的过程,是导致器官移植后脏器失活的重要原因之一,其危害性仅次于免疫排斥.因此如何减轻肝脏缺血-再灌注损伤仍是目前肝脏外科特别是移植外科的研究热点及难点之一.近年的研究结果表明缺血后处理能减轻肝脏缺血-再灌注损伤,我们主要探讨缺血后处理的作用机制及其在肝移植缺血-再灌注损伤中作用研究的最新进展.     

缺血后处理在肝移植缺血-再灌注损伤中的作用

缺血-再灌注损伤是肝脏大手术(包括肝切除及肝移植)后不可避免的过程,是导致器官移植后脏器失活的重要原因之一,其危害性仅次于免疫排斥.因此如何减轻肝脏缺血-再灌注损伤仍是目前肝脏外科特别是移植外科的研究热点及难点之一.近年的研究结果表明缺血后处理能减轻肝脏缺血-再灌注损伤,我们主要探讨缺血后处理的作用机制及其在肝移植缺血-再灌注损伤中作用研究的最新进展.     

缺血后处理在肝移植缺血-再灌注损伤中的作用

缺血-再灌注损伤是肝脏大手术(包括肝切除及肝移植)后不可避免的过程,是导致器官移植后脏器失活的重要原因之一,其危害性仅次于免疫排斥.因此如何减轻肝脏缺血-再灌注损伤仍是目前肝脏外科特别是移植外科的研究热点及难点之一.近年的研究结果表明缺血后处理能减轻肝脏缺血-再灌注损伤,我们主要探讨缺血后处理的作用机制及其在肝移植缺血-再灌注损伤中作用研究的最新进展.     

缺血再灌注损伤对肝脏免疫原性的影响

目的 观察缺血再灌注损伤对肝脏免疫原性的影响.方法 30只大鼠均分为3组,利用免疫荧光及Western blol检测缺血30min再灌注组及缺血60min再灌注组及对照组的肝脏中共刺激分子B7蛋白的表达水平.结果 正常肝脏B7-1、B7-2表达处于极低水平(0.035±0.005、0.025±0.004),缺血再灌注后肝脏B7-1、B7-2的蛋白表达明显升高(P<0.01),缺血再灌注60min组的B7-1、B7-2的表达水平明显高于缺血30min再灌注组(B7-1:0.070±0.017比0.051±0.008,B7-2:0.042±0.004.比0.037±0.004,P<0.01).结论 缺血再灌注损伤使共刺激分子B7蛋白表达升高,提示缺血再灌注损伤可使移植肝免疫原性升高,这些均能促进急性排斥反应的发生.     

高渗盐水预处理对大鼠肝脏缺血再灌注损伤血清一氧化氮和内皮素-1表达水平的影响

目的探讨高渗盐水预处理对大鼠肝脏缺血再灌注损伤一氧化氮(NO)、内皮素-1(ET-1)表达水平的影响及其相关性分析。方法清洁健康雄性SD大鼠45只,随机分为假手术组、肝脏缺血再灌注组和高渗盐水预处理组3组,每组15只。用Pringle’s法建立大鼠肝脏缺血再灌注模型,检测肝脏缺血30 min再灌注1、6、24 h后血清NO、ET-1的水平,探讨缺血再灌注6 h时的NO、ET-1水平的相关性。结果肝脏缺血30 min再灌注1、6、24 h后,缺血再灌注组和高渗盐水预处理组血清NO水平均明显低于假手术组(P0.01),而血清ET-1水平则均明显高于假手术组(P0.01);高渗盐水预处理组血清NO水平明显高于缺血再灌注组(P0.01),而血清ET-1水平则明显低于缺血再灌注组(P0.01)。各组血清NO和ET-1水平在1、6、24 h之间的变化以6 h最为显著。大鼠血清NO与ET-1水平呈负相关(r=-0.970,P0.01)。结论高渗盐水预处理改变了缺血再灌注损伤后血清NO与ET-1的水平,且二者水平的变化具有相关性,其作用机理可能是通过某种途径激发血清NO的水平、降低ET-1的水平,使两者的动态平衡向良性方向发展而达到保护作用。     

自噬标记性分子LC3-Ⅱ在肝脏缺血再灌注损伤中的研究

肝癌、外伤性肝破裂等肝脏疾病行手术治疗时,常常面临剩余肝缺血再灌注损伤的问题,明显增加了手术治疗的风险和影响患者术后的恢复.细胞自噬是肝脏缺血再灌注损伤后细胞程序性死亡方式之一,在动物实验模拟肝脏缺血再灌注研究时,常以检测自噬标记性分子LC3-Ⅱ的水平变化代表细胞自噬活动的强弱.现就LC3-Ⅱ在肝脏缺血再灌注损伤中的研究作一综述.     

丙泊酚对大鼠肝脏缺血-再灌注损伤c-fos、c-jun蛋白及细胞凋亡的影响

目的 通过研究丙泊酚对大鼠肝脏缺血-再灌注损伤时c-fos、c-jun蛋白的影响,进一步探讨丙泊酚对肝脏缺血-再灌注损伤的保护机制.方法 36只健康SD大鼠(雌雄不限)随机分为三组,每组12只.肝脏缺血-再灌注组(A组):肝缺血前30min经微量泵持续输注牛理盐水10ml·kg-1·h-1至再灌注后1h;肝脏缺血-再灌注加丙泊酚组(B组):肝缺血前经微量泵持续输注丙泊酚30ml·kg-1·h-1至再灌注后1h;假手术组(C组):末予缺血处理,经微量泵持续输注生理盐水10ml·kg-1·h-1共1.5h.各组大鼠取肝脏右叶标本,免疫组化染色,显微镜下观察c-fos、c-jun蛋白的表达并进行图像分析,电镜下观察细胞凋亡情况.结果 免疫组化结果显示c-fos、c-jun蛋白在B组的表达较A组明显减少(P<0.05).图像分析结果表明积分光密度(IOD)值三组差异有统计学意义(P<0.05).电镜结果显示B组细胞凋亡不显著,明显少于A组.结论 丙泊酚对肝脏缺血-再灌注损伤的保护作用与c-fos、c-jun蛋白密切相关,可明显减少两者的表达,并且显著减轻肝脏缺血-再灌注损伤所引起的细胞凋亡.     

17-β-雌二醇对大鼠肝脏缺血再灌注损伤的保护作用及其机制

目的 探讨17-β-雌二醇对雄性大鼠肝脏缺血再灌注(I／R)损伤的保护作用及其机制。方法 采用大鼠部分肝脏缺血再灌注损伤模型，将健康雄性SD大鼠96只随机分成两组：A组(缺血再灌注组)，B组(17-β-雌二醇处理组)。每组分别随机取6只于缺血前、肝脏再灌注后1h、2h、4h、1d、3d、5d、7d时检测血清谷丙转氨酶(ALT)、谷草转氨酶(AST)、乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)和肿瘤坏死因子(TNF-α)水平，并进行统计学处理。结果 除缺血前和再灌注7d外A组动物在相应时点ALT、AST、LDH、TNF-α水平均高于B组，且A组动物肝功能恢复正常时间(与缺血前相比)迟于B组。结论 17-β-雌二醇对肝脏缺血再灌注损伤有显著的保护作用，并可缩短病程，其作用机制可能与17-β-雌二醇降低肝脏I／R时血清TNF-α水平有关。     

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.     

瘦素对肠缺血/再灌注损伤大鼠肝脏功能的影响及其机制

目的:探讨瘦素(leptin)对大鼠肠缺血/再灌注(I/R)损伤时肝脏的保护作用及其机制。方法:99只Wistar大鼠随机分成11组:假手术组,肠缺血45min再灌注15min、30min、1h、3h、6h的肠I/R损伤组和相应时间点的leptin治疗组,每组9只大鼠。肠I/R损伤组和leptin治疗组建立大鼠肠I/R损伤模型;leptin治疗组于再灌注的同时腹腔注射leptin0.2mg/kg。假手术组术后1h处死,其余各组大鼠于相应时间点处死,检测血清丙氨酸转氨酶(ALT),肝组织中白细胞介素-6(IL-6)、IL-10和超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)水平的动态变化。结果:肠I/R组血清ALT随着时间变化逐渐升高,肝组织中的IL-6水平于再灌注3h显著升高,而IL-10水平基本处于平稳的波动状态,SOD活性于再灌注早期呈略微下降趋势,1h后逐步回升至假手术组水平;leptin治疗后血清ALT水平基本稳定在较低水平,再灌注3h后,肝组织IL-6水平较损伤组明显降低,同时SOD活性显著提高,IL-10水平于再灌注15min时突然增高,随即恢复到假手术组水平。结论:leptin对大鼠肠I/R造成的肝脏功能损伤具有改善作用,可能与其调节肝组织中的细胞因子释放、提高肝脏的抗氧化损伤能力有关。     

缺血后处理对大鼠移植肝缺血再灌注损伤的保护作用

目的探讨在体条件下缺血后处理对大鼠移植肝缺血再灌注损伤的保护作用及其可能机制。方法采用SD大鼠原位肝移植模型,供肝冷保存时间100min,无肝期控制于18min以内,60只雄性健康SD大鼠随机分为3组,对照组12只,缺血再灌注损伤组和后处理组各24只。对照组开腹后仅游离肝周韧带;缺血再灌注损伤组受体大鼠供肝切除前仅以肝素化生理盐水经门静脉灌注;后处理组供肝植入后完全再灌注前,给予多次短暂复灌复停作为缺血后处理。缺血再灌注损伤组、后处理组受体一半（6只）于再灌注后2h留取血液及肝组织,另一半（6只）于再灌注后6h留取肝组织。对照组于关腹后相应时间留取血液及肝组织。各组分别检测肝功能,采用酶联免疫吸附法测定血清肿瘤坏死因子Or．和中性粒细胞弹性蛋白酶。根据酶促反应原理,利用分光光度仪测定肝脏谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶、丙二醛、髓过氧化物酶、超氧化物歧化酶。肝组织HE染色后光镜下观察组织学变化。结果缺血再灌注损伤组和后处理组血清肝功能指标、炎性细胞因子水平及肝组织过氧化物含量均高于对照组（P〈0．05）,而后处理组较缺血再灌注损伤组则明显低（P〈0．05）;缺血再灌注损伤组和后处理组肝组织抗氧化酶活力显著低于对照组（P〈0．05）,而后处理组较缺血再灌注损伤组则明显高（P〈0．05）。结论缺血后处理对大鼠移植肝的缺血再灌注损伤有明显的保护作用。提高组织的抗氧化能力和降低炎性细胞因子水平可能是缺血后处理保护作用的机制之一。     

The effect of liver graft-body weight ratio on the core temperature of pediatric patients during liver transplantation

The left lateral segment of the liver from an adult living donor sometimes is relatively too large for a small pediatric recipient. It currently is unknown whether a high graft-recipient body weight ratio (GRWR) has a significant effect on core temperature during the anhepatic and reperfusion phases of living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). Seventy-two pediatric patients undergoing LDLT were divided into two groups according to body weight. Group I (GI) consisted of patients with a body weight greater than 10 kg, and group II (GII), less than 10 kg. Core temperature, measured as nasopharyngeal temperature (NT), was compared between groups at induction of anesthesia, hourly during the following 6 hours, as the lowest core temperature at the anhepatic phase, 5 and 30 minutes after reperfusion, and the last 2 hours before the end of the operation. Mild hypothermia of 35.8°C ± 0.7°C and 35.9°C ± 0.4°C for GI and GII was noted after induction of anesthesia, respectively; this increased ± 1°C in the following 6 hours. In the anhepatic and reperfusion phases, a sudden and significant decrease in NT was observed in both groups. This decrease in NT was significantly greater in GII than GI. In conclusion, a sudden decrease in core temperature was observed during the anhepatic and reperfusion phases of LDLT in pediatric patients, likely caused by placement of the cold liver graft, which is flushed with 4°C lactated Ringer's solution during vessel reconstruction, in the anhepatic phase and return of venous blood through the cold preserved liver in the reperfusion phase. Core temperatures of pediatric patients with a body weight less than 10 kg in GII, who received grafts with a high GRWR, were more affected than those in GI. (Liver Transpl 2003;9:760-763.)     

Effect of prostaglandin E1 derivative on labilization of liver lysosomal membrane in partial liver ischemia]

The change of liver lysosomal enzymes in tissue and serum during a reperfusion period was studied in partial liver ischemic model in rats and effect of Prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) derivative on partial liver ischemia was investigated. Partial liver ischemia was induced by clamping the branches of the vessels to the right and caudate lobes of rat liver. The clamp was released after 30 minutes of ischemia. Ischemic and nonischemic lobes of the liver were separately removed and the serum was also collected immediately and two hours after the release of the clamp. Lysosomal enzyme activities from free and bound lysosomal fraction were measured separately and the fragility index (F.I.) was calculated. PGE1 derivative was administered intraperitoneally 24, 6, 0.5 hours prior to the induction of ischemia at each dose of 0.05 microgram/kg. Pretreatment with PGE1 derivative prevented lysosomal labilization in ischemic lobe, since there was a significant decrease in F.I. of cathepsin D in the PGE1-pretreated group (preischemia; 28.3 +/- 2.4%, immediately after reperfusion; 30.3 +/- 2.5%, two hours after reperfusion; 30.3 +/- 2.5%) compared to the placebo group (immediately after reperfusion; 40.9 +/- 3.4%, two hours after reperfusion; 41.7 +/- 3.4%, p less than 0.05, p less than 0.05, p less than 0.01, respectively). Pretreatment with PGE1 derivative also significantly suppressed the increase of serum lysosomal enzyme activity. These results showed that PGE1 derivative improved liver lysosomal labilization in partial liver ischemia.     

Liver HIF-1 alpha induction precedes apoptosis following normothermic ischemia-reperfusion in rats

Apoptosis plays an important role in ischemia-reperfusion (I-R) injury during liver transplantation. The hypoxia-inducible factor alpha (HIF-1alpha) may trigger liver apoptosis following I-R through the induction of hypoxically regulated genes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of normothermic liver I-R on HIF-1alpha expression and apoptosis in rats. Segmental normothermic ischemia of the liver was induced in rats for 120 minutes. Liver extracts from either ischemic or nonischemic lobes were prepared at 0, 1, 3, and 6 hours after reperfusion. Liver HIF-1alpha protein expression was examined by Western blot analysis. Liver apoptosis was quantified using terminal deoxynucleotide transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick end labeling assay. Normothermic I-R resulted in a significant (P< .05) increase in liver HIF-1alpha protein levels 1 and 3 hours after reperfusion. Liver apoptosis was significantly (P< .005) increased at 3 and 6 hours after reperfusion. In conclusion, normothermic liver I-R leads to increased liver expression of HIF-1alpha and apoptosis.     

Alterations in protein tyrosine kinase pathways in rat liver following normothermic ischemia-reperfusion

The phosphoregulation of signal transduction pathways is a complex series of reactions that modulate the cellular response to ischemia-reperfusion (I-R). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of normothermic liver I-R on protein tyrosine phosphorylation, production of angiogenic growth factors, and activation of signal proteins in tyrosine kinase pathways. A segmental normothermic ischemia of the liver was induced in rats by occluding the blood vessels (including the bile duct) to the median and left lateral lobes for 120 minutes. Liver extracts from either ischemic or nonischemic lobes were prepared at 0, 1, 3, and 6 hours after reperfusion. Liver tyrosine phosphorylation of proteins was examined by Western blot analysis, whereas vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNA was analyzed by Northern blot. In ischemic liver lobes, VEGF mRNA and total protein levels increased at 1 and 3 hours after reperfusion. Tyrosine phosphorylation of the VEGF receptor Flk-1 and the platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGF-R) was increased only at 1 hour after reperfusion, while c-Src tyrosine phosphorylation remained increased at 3 hours and remained up to 6 hours after reperfusion. In conclusion, 1-R led to alterations in protein tyrosine phosphorylation and increased expression of VEGF in rat liver.     

The separate and combined influence of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory drugs on the liver during ischaemia-reperfusion of the superior mesenteric artery: An experimental study

Aim-Background

To investigate the influence of N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) and Atorvastatin, separately and combined, on the liver of rats after inducing ischaemia-reperfusion of the superior mesenteric artery.

Methods

Forty male rats aged 2½ months and weighing 220–250gr were randomly assigned to 5 groups of 8 rats. The rats in the first group were considered as controls. The second group was subjected to ischaemia of the superior mesenteric artery for 45 minutes, followed by reperfusion of the superior mesenteric artery for 3 hours, without any drug administration. In the third group, a single dose of Atorvastatin (10mg/kg) was administered 24 hours before the phase of ischaemia. The fourth group received a single dose of N-acetyl-cysteine (160mg/kg) 24 hours before the phase of ischaemia. The fifth group was given both drugs simultaneously 24 hours before the phase of ischaemia. Three hours after reperfusion of the superior mesenteric artery, the liver was surgically removed and prepared for histological examination.

Results

The histological examination of liver tissue samples revealed diffuse necrosis of hepatocytes in the group without any drug administration prior to ischaemia-reperfusion. The groups of animals that were treated with NAC or Atorvastatin or the combination of both drugs showed quite a different histological picture with focal necrosis of hepatocytes and less degenerative lesions.

Conclusions

This study shows that pretreatment with NAC, Atorvastatin and their combination protects the liver from injury induced by intestinal ischaemia-reperfusion. This is ascribed to the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect of the above-mentioned drugs.     

Effects of ischemia-reperfusion injury on apolipoprotein M expression in the liver

The present study investigated the expression pattern of apolipoprotein M (apoM) mRNA in a rat model of hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI). Animals were ischemic for 1 hour followed by various reperfusion times. As expected, serum alanine aminotransferase levels were significantly increased under IRI, which indicated the severity of liver injury. Hepatic mRNA levels of HSP70, which is the most common characterized protein within the family of heat-shock proteins (HSP), were significantly increased after 0.5 to 3 hours of IRI. Plasma C-reactive protein, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, and lipoprotein (a) levels were significantly increased after 1-hour ischemia followed by 0.5 to 3 hours of reperfusion. Interestingly, similar to HSP70, apoM mRNA levels in the liver were gradually increased after 0.5 to 3 hours of IRI, whereas it returned to a lower level after 6 or 24 hours of IRI, which indicated that hepatic apoM expression was significantly influenced by the acute phase of IRI. However, plasma apoM levels were not increased in parallel, even slightly decreasing after 0.5 or 1 hour of IRI. We concluded that apoM mRNA expression pattern, like HSP70, in the liver showed rapid, significant changes during hepatic local IRI.     

Effect of N-Acetylcysteine Administration on Intraoperative Plasma Levels of Interleukin-4 and Interleukin-10 in Liver Transplant Recipients

We investigated whether intraoperative administration of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) in liver transplant recipients ameliorated their inflammatory responses by increasing intraoperative plasma levels of interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-10. This prospective, randomized, double-blind clinical trial included liver transplant recipients randomly assigned to the NAC-treated (n = 25) or the placebo (n = 25) group. The NAC-treated group received 100 mg/kg dissolved in 5% dextrose over 15 minutes during the anhepatic phase, followed by a continuous infusion of 50 mg/kg in 5% dextrose over the next 24 hours, whereas the placebo group received equal amounts of 5% dextrose solution during the same time. Peripheral blood samples were drawn in EDTA-containing tubes after induction of anesthesia (I-1); at 15 minutes into the anhepatic phase (I-2) prior to the administration of NAC or placebo; at 5 minutes before reperfusion (I-3); at 10 minutes after reperfusion (I-4); at 20 minutes after reperfusion (I-5); at 60 minutes after reperfusion (I-6); and at 1 hour after completion of the liver transplantation (I-7). Cytokine levels were determined using a technique which combined enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and flow cytometry. Plasma IL-4 levels were significantly higher among the NAC-treated group than the placebo group at I-3 (P = .046) and I-4 (P = .041). Plasma IL-10 levels showed significant enhancement in the NAC-treated group at 5 minutes before reperfusion (I-3; P = .007). We concluded that intraoperative NAC administration during the anhepatic phase of liver transplantation significantly increased recipient IL-4 plasma levels before and after reperfusion, and IL-10 plasma values before reperfusion (I-3). These enhancements seemed to be associated with a protective effect against reperfusion injury.