Effects of TAT-heme oxygenase-1 fusion protein on liver injury in rats undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation / 中华麻醉学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the effects of TAT-heme oxygenase-1 (TAT-HO-1) fusion protein on liver injury in rats undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT).Methods Adult male Lewis (inbred) rats (aged 8-10 weeks,weighing 180-230 g) were used as donors and Brown Norway rats (aged 8-10 weeks,weighing 180-230 g) as recipients.The recipient rats were randomly divided into 2 groups (n=6 each) using a random number tableOLT group and TAT-HO-1 group.The livers were harvested according to the method described by Kamada.In OLT group,the donor livers were flushed and preserved with 4 ℃ HTK solution,while the livers were flushed and preserved for 6 h with 4 ℃ HTK solution containing TAT-HO-1 50 μg/ml in group P.Blood samples were obtained at 7 days after transplantation for measurement of activities of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase in serum.Hepatic specimens were obtained at 7 days after transplantation and stained with haematoxylin and eosin for examination under light microscope.Rejection activity index was calculated according to Banff criteria.The contents of transforming growth factor-beta 1 and interleukin-6 in liver tissues were determined using ELISA.Kupffer cells were isolated and cultured for 48 h to determine the levels of transforming growth factor-beta 1 and interleukin-6 in culture medium.Results Activities of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase in serum,rejection activity index and levels of transforming growth factor-beta 1 and interleukin-6 in liver tissues and culture medium of Kupffer cells were significantly decreased,and the pathological changes of livers were mitigated in group TAT-HO-1 as compared to group OLT.Conclusion TAT-HO-1 fusion protein applied during cold storage of donor livers can attenuate liver injury in rats undergoing OLT.