Expression of GMP-140 (P-selectin) correlates with graft viability in cold-preserved rat livers

BACKGROUND: Ischemia/reperfusion injury is an inflammatory process involving cytokine release, Kupffer cell activation, and sinusoidal endothelial cell activation. GMP-140 is synthesized by endothelial cells. METHODS: We analyzed by Western blotting the expression of GMP-140 in a syngeneic rat liver transplantation model using grafts preserved for different periods of time. RESULTS: Compared with prereperfusion samples, expression did not change significantly in freshly harvested and 4-hr preserved livers. In grafts preserved for 24 hr (100% survival), GMP-140 levels increased dramatically at 1 hr, then returned to baseline at 24 hr after transplantation. Forty-eight hour preserved grafts (0% survival) showed a decreasing expression. To identify possible mediators, the effects of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1beta on GMP-140 expression in primary sinusoidal endothelial cells were analyzed. These cytokines increased both the percentage of stained cells as well as their mean staining fluorescence. CONCLUSIONS: The absence of increase in 48-hr grafts suggests that GMP-140 may distinguish viable from nonviable livers.