Vascular Oxidant Stress and Hepatic Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury

The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that the extracellular oxidation of glutathione (GSH) may represent an important mechanism to limit hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury in male Fischer rats in vivo. Basal plasma levels of glutatione disulfide (GSSG: 1.5 ± 0.2μM GSH-equivalents), glutathione (GSH: 6.2 ± 0.4 μM) and alanine aminotransferase activities (ALT 12 ± 2U/I) were significantly increased during the l h reperfusion period following l h of partial hepatic no-flow ischemia (GSSG: 19.7 ± 2.2μM; GSH 36.9 ± 7.4μM; ALT: 2260 ± 355 U/l). Pretreatment with 1,3-bis-(2-chloroethyl)-I-nitrosourea (40mg BCNU/kg), which inhibited glutathione reductase activity in the liver by 60%. did not affect any of these parameters. Biliary GSSG and GSH efflux rates were reduced and the GSSG-to-GSH ratio was not altered in controls and BCNU-treated rats at any time during ischemia and reperfusion. A 90% depletion of the hepatic glutathione content by phorone treatment (300 mg/kg) reduced the increase of plasma GSSG levels by 54%, totally suppressed the rise of plasma GSH concentrations and increased plasma ALT to 4290 ± 755 U/I during reperfusion. The data suggest that hepatic glutathione serves to limit ischemialreperfusion injury as a source of extracellular glutathione, not as a cofactor for the intracellular enzymatic detoxification of reactive oxygen species.     

Renal Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury in Soluble Epoxide Hydrolase-Deficient Mice

Aim

20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (20-HETE) and epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) are cytochrome P450 (CYP)-dependent eicosanoids that play opposite roles in the regulation of vascular tone, inflammation, and apoptosis. 20-HETE aggravates, whereas EETs ameliorate ischemia/reperfusion (I/R)-induced organ damage. EETs are rapidly metabolized to dihydroxyeicosatrienoic acids (DHETs) by the soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH). We hypothesized that sEH gene (EPHX2) deletion would increase endogenous EET levels and thereby protect against I/R-induced acute kidney injury (AKI).

Methods

Kidney damage was evaluated in male wildtype (WT) and sEH-knockout (KO)-mice that underwent 22-min renal ischemia followed by two days of reperfusion. CYP-eicosanoids were analyzed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.

Results

Contrary to our initial hypothesis, renal function declined more severely in sEH-KO mice as indicated by higher serum creatinine and urea levels. The sEH-KO-mice also featured stronger tubular lesion scores, tubular apoptosis, and inflammatory cell infiltration. Plasma and renal EET/DHET-ratios were higher in sEH-KO than WT mice, thus confirming the expected metabolic consequences of sEH deficiency. However, CYP-eicosanoid profiling also revealed that renal, but not plasma and hepatic, 20-HETE levels were significantly increased in sEH-KO compared to WT mice. In line with this finding, renal expression of Cyp4a12a, the murine 20-HETE-generating CYP-enzyme, was up-regulated both at the mRNA and protein level, and Cyp4a12a immunostaining was more intense in the renal arterioles of sEH-KO compared with WT mice.

Conclusion

These results indicate that the potential beneficial effects of reducing EET degradation were obliterated by a thus far unknown mechanism leading to kidney-specific up-regulation of 20-HETE formation in sEH-KO-mice.     

葛根素对大鼠肝脏缺血再灌注损伤的保护作用

目的:观察葛根素预处理时大鼠肝脏缺血再灌注损伤的保护作用.方法:雄性SD大鼠,建立肝脏缺血再灌注模型(HIR).随机分为假手术组、HIR组和HIR-葛根素预处理组.分析各组动物血清中谷草转氨酶(AST)、谷丙转氨酶(ALT)及乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)含量的变化,观察肝组织病理学的改变.结果:肝脏缺血再灌注损伤后,与假手术组比较,血清中AST、ALT、LDH含量均显著增加,同时肝脏门静脉周围瘀血明显,可见少量散在的肝细胞片状坏死灶,有少量炎性细胞和单核细胞浸润,肝细胞肿胀、脂肪空泡变性、核浓缩;经40mg/kg剂量的葛根素预处理7天后,与模型组相比,血清中AST、ALT、LDH均显著降低,肝脏的瘀血明显较模型组轻,肝小叶结构基本正常,微血管未见明显损伤,窦间隙稍宽,细胞变性坏死不明显,偶见少量肝细胞坏死.结论:葛根素预处理对大鼠缺血再灌注肝脏损伤有一定的保护作用.     

Homer1a基因敲除对小鼠局灶性脑缺血再灌注损伤的作用

目的:通过研究homer1a基因敲除小鼠脑缺血再灌注损伤及海马区星形胶质细胞活化、数目形态变化,探讨homer1a基因在脑缺血损伤中的作用及机制。方法:取雄性homer1a基因敲除(Knock Out,KO)小鼠及同窝野生型(Wild Type,WT)小鼠各15只,分为基因敲除假手术组(Sham Knock Out,SKO,n=3)、基因敲除型缺血2 h再灌注24 h组(Model Knock Out,MKO,n=12)、野生型假手术组(Sham Wild Type,SWT,n=3)及野生型缺血2 h再灌24h组(Model Wild Type,MWT,n=12)。线栓法闭塞小鼠大脑中动脉制作脑缺血再灌注损伤模型(middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion,MCAO/R),在缺血再灌注损伤前(0 h)及缺血再灌注后3 h、6 h、12 h、24 h后进行改良版神经损伤严重性评分(modified Neurological severity scores,m NSS)、2,3,5—氯化三苯基四氮唑(2,3,5triphenyltetrazolium chloride,TTC)染色、苏木素—伊红染色(Hematoxylin-eosin staining,HE)、原位末端转移酶标记技术(terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase(Td T)-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate(d UTP)nick end labeling,TUNEL)检测及免疫荧光染色观察海马区星形胶质细胞神经纤维酸性蛋白(Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein,GFAP)改变。结果:SKO组、SWT组行为学m NSS评分均为0分,TTC染色未见梗死灶。TUNLE及GFAP染色阳性细胞数很少且未见统计学差异(P0.05)。脑缺血再灌注24 h后,MKO组m NSS评分较MWT组高;TTC染色MKO组较MWT组梗死百分比高;MKO组较MWT组TUNEL凋亡率高;GFAP免疫荧光染色阳性数MKO组少于MWT组,且均有统计学差异(P0.05)。结论:homer1a基因敲除加重了小鼠脑缺血再灌注损伤,星形胶质细胞可能参与并发挥复杂作用。     

Endurance Exercise Accelerates Myocardial Tissue Oxygenation Recovery and Reduces Ischemia Reperfusion Injury in Mice

Exercise training offers cardioprotection against ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) injury. However, few essential signals have been identified to underscore the protection from injury. In the present study, we hypothesized that exercise-induced acceleration of myocardial tissue oxygenation recovery contributes to this protection. C57BL/6 mice (4 weeks old) were trained on treadmills for 45 min/day at a treading rate of 15 m/min for 8 weeks. At the end of 8-week exercise training, mice underwent 30-min left anterior descending coronary artery occlusion followed by 60-min or 24-h reperfusion. Electron paramagnetic resonance oximetry was performed to measure myocardial tissue oxygenation. Western immunoblotting analyses, gene transfection, and myography were examined. The oximetry study demonstrated that exercise markedly shortened myocardial tissue oxygenation recovery time following reperfusion. Exercise training up-regulated Kir6.1 protein expression (a subunit of ATP-sensitive K⁺ channel on vascular smooth muscle cells, VSMC sarc-K_ATP) and protected the heart from I/R injury. In vivo gene transfer of dominant negative Kir6.1AAA prolonged the recovery time and enlarged infarct size. In addition, transfection of Kir6.1AAA increased the stiffness and reduced the relaxation capacity in the vasculature. Together, our study demonstrated that exercise training up-regulated Kir6.1, improved tissue oxygenation recovery, and protected the heart against I/R injury. This exercise-induced cardioprotective mechanism may provide a potential therapeutic intervention targeting VSMC sarc-K_ATP channels and reperfusion recovery.     

Butyrate Protects Rat Liver against Total Hepatic Ischemia Reperfusion Injury with Bowel Congestion

Hepatic ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury is an unavoidable consequence of major liver surgery, especially in liver transplantation with bowel congestion, during which endotoxemia is often evident. The inflammatory response aggravated by endotoxin after I/R contributes to liver dysfunction and failure. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the protective effect of butyrate, a naturally occurring four-carbon fatty acid in the body and a dietary component of foods such as cheese and butter, on hepatic injury complicated by enterogenous endotoxin, as well as to examine the underlying mechanisms involved. SD rats were subjected to a total hepatic ischemia for 30 min after pretreatment with either vehicle or butyrate, followed by 6 h and 24 h of reperfusion. Butyrate preconditioning markedly improved hepatic function and histology, as indicated by reduced transaminase levels and ameliorated tissue pathological changes. The inflammatory factors levels, macrophages activation, TLR4 expression, and neutrophil infiltration in live were attenuated by butyrate. Butyrate also maintained the intestinal barrier structures, reversed the aberrant expression of ZO-1, and decreased the endotoxin translocation. We conclude that butyrate inhibition of endotoxin translocation, macrophages activation, inflammatory factors production, and neutrophil infiltration is involved in the alleviation of total hepatic I/R liver injury in rats. This suggests that butyrate should potentially be utilized in liver transplantation.     

Matrix Metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) Gene Deletion Enhances MMP-9 Activity,Impairs PARP-1 Degradation,and Exacerbates Hepatic Ischemia and Reperfusion Injury in Mice

Hepatic ischemia and reperfusion injury (IRI) is an inflammatory condition and a significant cause of morbidity and mortality after surgery. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) have been widely implicated in the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases. Among the different MMPs, gelatinases (MMP-2 and MMP-9) are within the most prominent MMPs detected during liver IRI. While the role of MMP-9 in liver damage has been fairly documented, direct evidence of the role for MMP-2 activity in hepatic IRI remains to be established. Due to the lack of suitable inhibitors to target individual MMPs in vivo, gene manipulation is as an essential tool to assess MMP direct contribution to liver injury. Hence, we used MMP-2^-/- deficient mice and MMP-2^+/+ wild-type littermates to examine the function of MMP-2 activity in hepatic IRI. MMP-2 expression was detected along the sinusoids of wild-type livers before and after surgery and in a small population of leukocytes post-IRI. Compared to MMP-2^+/+ mice, MMP-2 null (MMP-2^-/-) mice showed exacerbated liver damage at 6, 24, and 48 hours post-reperfusion, which was fatal in some cases. MMP-2 deficiency resulted in upregulation of MMP-9 activity, spontaneous leukocyte infiltration in naïve livers, and amplified MMP-9-dependent transmigration of leukocytes in vitro and after hepatic IRI. Moreover, complete loss of MMP-2 activity impaired the degradation of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP-1) in extensively damaged livers post-reperfusion. However, the administration of a PARP-1 inhibitor to MMP-2 null mice restored liver preservation to almost comparable levels of MMP-2^+/+ mice post-IRI. Deficient PARP-1 degradation in MMP-2-null sinusoidal endothelial cells correlated with their increased cytotoxicity, evaluated by the measurement of LDH efflux in the medium. In conclusion, our results show for the first time that MMP-2 gene deletion exacerbates liver IRI. Moreover, they offer new insights into the MMP-2 modulation of inflammatory responses, which could be relevant for the design of new pharmacological MMP-targeted agents to treat hepatic IRI.     

Exogenous Adipokine Peptide Resistin Protects Against Focal Cerebral Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury in Mice

Neurochemical Research - Previous studies have demonstrated that plasma resistin levels were increased in patients with acute ischemic stroke. However, the role of resistin after ischemic brain...     

Protective Role of p70S6K in Intestinal Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury in Mice

The mTOR signaling pathway plays a crucial role in the regulation of cell growth, proliferation, survival and in directing immune responses. As the intestinal epithelium displays rapid cell growth and differentiation and is an important immune regulatory organ, we hypothesized that mTOR may play an important role in the protection against intestinal ischemia reperfusion (I/R)-induced injury. To better understand the molecular mechanisms by which the mTOR pathway is altered by intestinal I/R, p70S6K, the major effector of the mTOR pathway, was investigated along with the effects of rapamycin, a specific inhibitor of mTOR and an immunosuppressant agent used clinically in transplant patients. In vitro experiments using an intestinal epithelial cell line and hypoxia/reoxygenation demonstrated that overexpression of p70S6K promoted cell growth and migration, and decreased cell apoptosis. Inhibition of p70S6K by rapamycin reversed these protective effects. In a mouse model of gut I/R, an increase of p70S6K activity was found by 5 min and remained elevated after 6 h of reperfusion. Inhibition of p70S6K by rapamycin worsened gut injury, promoted inflammation, and enhanced intestinal permeability. Importantly, rapamycin treated animals had a significantly increased mortality. These novel results demonstrate a key role of p70S6K in protection against I/R injury in the intestine and suggest a potential danger in using mTOR inhibitors in patients at risk for gut hypoperfusion.     

VEGFR1-Positive Macrophages Facilitate Liver Repair and Sinusoidal Reconstruction after Hepatic Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury

Liver repair after acute liver injury is characterized by hepatocyte proliferation, removal of necrotic tissue, and restoration of hepatocellular and hepatic microvascular architecture. Macrophage recruitment is essential for liver tissue repair and recovery from injury; however, the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Signaling through vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1 (VEGFR1) is suggested to play a role in macrophage migration and angiogenesis. The aim of the present study was to examine the role of VEGFR1 in liver repair and sinusoidal reconstruction after hepatic ischemia/reperfusion (I/R). VEGFR1 tyrosine kinase knockout mice (VEGFR1 TK^-/- mice) and wild-type (WT) mice were subjected to hepatic warm I/R, and the processes of liver repair and sinusoidal reconstruction were examined. Compared with WT mice, VEGFR1 TK^-/- mice exhibited delayed liver repair after hepatic I/R. VEGFR1-expressing macrophages recruited to the injured liver showed reduced expression of epidermal growth factor (EGF). VEGFR1 TK^-/- mice also showed evidence of sustained sinusoidal functional and structural damage, and reduced expression of pro-angiogenic factors. Treatment of VEGFR1 TK^-/- mice with EGF attenuated hepatoceullar and sinusoidal injury during hepatic I/R. VEGFR1 TK^-/- bone marrow (BM) chimeric mice showed impaired liver repair and sinusoidal reconstruction, and reduced recruitment of VEGFR1-expressing macrophages to the injured liver. VEGFR1-macrophages recruited to the liver during hepatic I/R contribute to liver repair and sinusoidal reconstruction. VEGFR1 activation is a potential therapeutic strategy for promoting liver repair and sinusoidal restoration after acute liver injury.     

注射用内给氧对缺血再灌注损伤兔肝脏能量代谢的影响

为了探讨注射用内给氧对肝脏缺血再灌注(I/R)损伤肝脏能量代谢的影响,将48只健康新西兰长耳大白兔随机分为4组:假手术组(A组),缺血再灌注组(B组),缺血再灌注 周围静脉注射用内给氧组(C组),缺血再灌注 肝动脉注射内给氧组(D组),每组12只,采用Pringle氏法建立肝脏I/R模型,比较4组大白兔缺血再灌注后1、2、24h肝组织内三磷酸腺苷(ATP)、二磷酸腺苷(ADP)、一磷酸腺苷(AMP)含量、肝脏的细胞能荷(EC)及肝组织形态学的变化.结果表明,与A组比较,8、C、D三组肝功能损害重,肝组织ATP含量,能荷值(EC)降低(P<0.05);肝组织病理学改变明显(P<0.05),B组以上各项指标差异更为显著,与B组比较,C、D二组肝组织ATP含量,能荷值(EC)高(P<0.05);肝组织病理学改变较轻(P<0.05);C组与D组比较,各参数无显著性差异.以上研究表明.注射用内给氧可通过改善肝细胞的能量代谢而减轻肝缺血再灌注损伤.     

MicroRNAs对缺血再灌注损伤的调控作用

MicroRNA（miRNA）是一类小的（～20个核苷酸）、非编码的单链RNA分子,能够负调控基因表达,涉及多种信号途径和病理生理过程。缺血再灌注损伤(ischemia reperfusion injury,IRI)指组织器官缺血后重新获得血液的再灌注过程,灌注后组织、器官功能不能恢复,造成功能障碍和结构损伤的现象。IRI是影响多个组织与器官复杂的、系统的生理病理过程,并能够产生很多不可逆的损伤,导致级联的多器官功能障碍。现已发现多种miRNA在组织器官IRI中发生明显的变化,表明miRNA能够直接或者间接影响组织器官IRI。本文综述了miRNA的靶基因以及在心、脑、肝和肾IRI中的调控作用。miRNA 不仅参与了器官IR 损伤的病理生理过程,而且作为IR损伤的特定标志物在临床诊断和干预治疗中具有广阔的前景。     

Tetrandrine Attenuated Cerebral Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury and Induced Differential Proteomic Changes in a MCAO Mice Model Using 2-D DIGE

Ischemic stroke is the most common type of stroke and brings about a big disease burden because of high mortality and disability in China. Tetrandrine, a bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid isolated from the Chinese herb Radix Stephania tetrandra, has been demonstrated to possess anti-inflammatory and free radical scavenging effects and even regulate astrocyte activation, but the possible role of tetrandrine in ameliorating cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury of ischemic stroke remains unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of tetrandrine on neurological injury and differential proteomic changes induced by transient reversible middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in mice. Male Balb/c mice were divided into sham (n = 30), MCAO + saline as control (n = 30), and MCAO + Tet as tetrandrine-treated (n = 30) groups. Mice in the control and tetrandrine-treated groups underwent 120 min of MCAO following reperfusion. Immediately and 2 h after MCAO, the mice received either normal saline (sham operated and control groups) or tetrandrine (tetrandrine-treated group) intraperitoneally. Neurological defects, brain water content, and infarct volume at 24 h after stoke were used to evaluate neurological injury extent. Treatment with tetrandrine not only mitigated cerebral neurological deficits (P < 0.05) and infarct size (P < 0.01), but also decreased brian edema in the ischemic brain (P < 0.05). Then, fluorescence two-dimensional difference in gel electrophoresis was used to detect our systematic differential profiling of proteomic changes responding to tetrandrine administration. We validated that the expression of GRP78, DJ-1 and HYOU1 was associated with neuroprotective effect of tetrandrine in MCAO model by Western blotting. These findings indicate a potential neuroprotective role of tetrandrine for ischemic stroke and yield insights into cellular and molecular mechanisms of tetrandrine taking place in ischemic stroke.     

Biliverdin Protects against Liver Ischemia Reperfusion Injury in Swine

Ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI) in organ transplantation remains a serious and unsolved problem. Organs that undergo significant damage during IRI, function less well immediately after reperfusion and tend to have more problems at later times when rejection can occur. Biliverdin has emerged as an agent that potently suppress IRI in rodent models. Since the use of biliverdin is being developed as a potential therapeutic modality for humans, we tested the efficacy for its effects on IRI of the liver in swine, an accepted and relevant pre-clinical animal model. Administration of biliverdin resulted in rapid appearance of bilirubin in the serum and significantly suppressed IRI-induced liver dysfunction as measured by multiple parameters including urea and ammonia clearance, neutrophil infiltration and tissue histopathology including hepatocyte cell death. Taken together, our findings, in a large animal model, provide strong support for the continued evaluation of biliverdin as a potential therapeutic in the clinical setting of transplantation of the liver and perhaps other organs.     

MicroRNA and mRNA Signatures in Ischemia Reperfusion Injury in Heart Transplantation

Ischemia reperfusion (I/R) injury is an unavoidable event occurring during heart transplantation, leading to graft failures and lower long-term survival rate of the recipient. Several studies have demonstrated that microRNAs (miRNAs) are vital regulators of signalling pathways involved in I/R injury. The present study aims to quantify the altered expression levels of miRNA and mRNA upon I/R injury in a mouse heart transplantation model, and to investigate whether these miRNA can regulate genes involved in I/R injury. We performed heterotopic heart transplantation on mouse models to generate heart tissue samples with I/R and non-I/R (control). The expression levels of miRNAs as well as genes were measured in heart grafts by microarray and real time RT-PCR. miRNA alteration in cardiomyocytes exposed to hypoxia was also detected by qRT-PCR. We observed significant alterations in miRNA and gene expression profile after I/R injury. There were 39 miRNAs significantly downregulated and 20 upregulated up to 1.5 fold in heart grafts with I/R injury compared with the grafts without I/R. 48 genes were observed with 3 fold change and p<0.05 and 18 signalling pathways were enriched using Keggs pathway library. Additionally, hypoxia/reperfusion induced primary cardiomyocyte apoptosis and altered miRNA expression profiles. In conclusion, this is the first report on miRNA expression profile for heart transplantation associated with I/R injury. These findings provide us with an insight into the role of miRNA in I/R injury in heart transplantation.     

缺血预适应对小鼠脑缺血再灌注损伤模型血脑屏障的保护作用及机制

目的:通过研究缺血预适应对小鼠脑缺血再灌注损伤血脑屏障通透性的影响,探讨缺血预适应的脑保护作用及相关分子机制。方法:取清洁健康成年小鼠72只,随机分为脑缺血预适应组(brain ischemic precondition,BIP),脑缺血再灌注组(middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion,MCAO/R)和假手术组(sham group),每组均24只,采用zealonga线栓法栓塞小鼠大脑中动脉建立BIP模型和MCAO/R模型,通过氯化三苯基四氮唑(triphenyl tetrazolium chloride,TTC)染色计算脑梗死面积,改良神经功能缺损评分(modified neurological severity scores,m NSS)对脑缺血再灌注神经损伤程度进行评估,测干-湿重法以及伊文氏蓝(Evans blue,EB)示踪结合脑组织EB定量法评价血脑屏障(blood brain barrier,BBB)的损伤程度,采用免疫组化法检测各组脑组织低氧诱导因子-1α(HIF-1α)和血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)的表达。结果:与MCAO组相比,BIP组显著降低缺血再灌注后m NSS评分,缩小了梗死面积并减轻脑水肿,有效的保护BBB功能,BIP组再灌注24 h时脑梗死灶周围皮质区HIF-1α及VEGF的表达均明显上调,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:BIP对小鼠脑缺血再灌注损伤模型BBB有一定的保护作用,其机制可能与其诱导HIF-1α及VEGF的表达上调有关。     

Erratum to: Exogenous Adipokine Peptide Resistin Protects Against Focal Cerebral Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury in Mice

Neurochemical Research -     

SIRT6在缺血再灌注损伤中的作用机制及研究进展

缺血性损伤后恢复血液供应会导致缺血再灌注（ischemia reperfusion, IR）损伤,这会导致组织损伤进一步加剧。IR损伤伴随着一系列机制,包括谷氨酸兴奋性毒性、钙超载、氧化应激、炎症和细胞凋亡,最终导致细胞死亡。IR损伤过程均由Sirtuins家族调控,在Sirtuins家族中,特异性定位于细胞核中的SIRT6可以促进对DNA损伤和氧化应激的抵抗,抑制基因组的不稳定性,在代谢稳态中发挥作用,同时SIRT6在人重要脏器中处于高度表达状态。但SIRT6在IR损伤中研究较少,结合国内外最新的研究进展,对SIRT6在IR损伤中的作用进行了回顾性的总结和分析,希望对国内外学者对于SIRT6在IR损伤中的研究提供一些参考依据。     

Cytoprotective Effect of Ferritin H in Renal Ischemia Reperfusion Injury

Oxidative stress is a major contributor to kidney injury following ischemia reperfusion. Ferritin, a highly conserved iron-binding protein, is a key protein in the maintenance of cellular iron homeostasis and protection from oxidative stress. Ferritin mitigates oxidant stress by sequestering iron and preventing its participation in reactions that generate reactive oxygen species. Ferritin is composed of two subunit types, ferritin H and ferritin L. Using an in vivo model that enables conditional tissue-specific doxycycline-inducible expression of ferritin H in the mouse kidney, we tested the hypothesis that an increased level of H-rich ferritin is renoprotective in ischemic acute renal failure. Prior to induction of ischemia, doxycycline increased ferritin H in the kidneys of the transgenic mice nearly 6.5-fold. Following reperfusion for 24 hours, induction of neutrophil gelatinous-associated lipocalin (NGAL, a urine marker of renal dysfunction) was reduced in the ferritin H overexpressers compared to controls. Histopathologic examination following ischemia reperfusion revealed that ferritin H overexpression increased intact nuclei in renal tubules, reduced the frequency of tubular profiles with luminal cast materials, and reduced activated caspase-3 in the kidney. In addition, generation of 4-hydroxy 2-nonenal protein adducts, a measurement of oxidant stress, was decreased in ischemia-reperfused kidneys of ferritin H overexpressers. These studies demonstrate that ferritin H can inhibit apoptotic cell death, enhance tubular epithelial viability, and preserve renal function by limiting oxidative stress following ischemia reperfusion injury.     

The Attenuation of Lung Ischemia Reperfusion Injury by Oxymatrine

To investigate the protective effects of oxymatrine (OMT) on lung ischemia reperfusion injury (LIRI) in rabbits, models of LIRI in rabbit were used. Thirty-two rabbits were randomly divided into four groups: control group (n = 8), ischemia reperfusion group (I/R group, n = 8), OMTl group (n = 8), OMT2 group (n = 8). Lung tissue samples were collected at 40, 80, 120 min time-points after lung ischemia reperfusion. TNF-α, 1I-8, IL-10, apoptosis index (AI), and index of quantitative assessment of histologic lung injury (IQA) were measured in each group. TNF-α and IL-8 in I/R group were significantly higher than those of the control group and OMT2 group (P < 0.01), but in OMT2 group they were significantly lower than those of OMTl group (P < 0.05). IL-10 in OMT2 group and OMTl group was significantly higher than that of I/R group (P < 0.01). But in OMTl group it was significantly lower than that of OMT2 group (P < 0.05). AI in I/R group was significantly higher than that of OMT2 group and the control group at 80 min after lung ischemia reperfusion (P < 0.01). IQA in OMTl group and OMT2 group was significantly lower than that of the I/R group (P < 0.01). Oxymatrine can protect against LIRI in rabbits by upregulating levels of IL-10 and downregulating levels of TNF-α and IL-8, inhibiting the alveolar cells apoptosis and inflammatory response, and attenuating the acute LIRI.