ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the effect of remote ischemic preconditioning on nuclear factor erythroid-2 related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling in the liver of aged rats after warm ischemia reperfusion injury.Methods A 70％ hepatic warm ischemia-reperfusion model was established in aged rats (15-16 months old) (1 hour after ischemia and 2 hours after reperfusion).12 male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into two groups:pretreatment group and control group.The level of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was detected after operation and the liver tissues were harvested for the determination of malondialdehyde (MDA) content and the activity of antioxidant enzyme-superoxide dismutase (SOD).The pathological changes of liver were observed.The change of Nrf2 protein expression in liver tissue was examined by Western blot.Results Serum ALT and MDA in the pretreatment group were significantly lower than those in the control group.The liver pathological damage of pretreatment group rats were lighter than the control group (P ＜ 0.05).Compared with the control group,the Nrf2 protein expression and the activity of SOD increased in the liver of pretreatment group (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Remote ischemic preconditioning can reduce 70％ hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury in aged rats,and its mechanism may be related to its activation of Nrf2 signaling pathway.