Effects of IL-22 on hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury and related mechanism in SD rats / 中华肝胆外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To investigate the protective effect of IL-22 on rat liver ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI) and the potential mechanisms.Methods:Eighteen male specific pathogen free SD rats (7-8 weeks, about 250g) were randomly divided into three groups Sham group (Sham), hepatic ischemia reperfusion (IRI) and IL-22 preconditioning group (IL-22+ IRI), respectively. The liver IRI model of 70% rats was established. The IL-22+ IRI group was intraperitoneally injected with rcIL-22 (50 mg/kg) 1 hour before surgery, and the Sham group and IRI group were injected with the same dose of normal saline 1 hour before surgery. After 1 h ischemia and 6 h reperfusion, blood was collected from the abdominal aorta, then liver tissue, serum aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine aminotransfease (ALT) levels were measured. The levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in liver tissue were detected. The expression of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), p-STAT3, nuclear factor erythorid-2 related factor 2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) were detected by Western blot. Results:Compared with Sham group, serum AST [(1 923.50±92.63) U/L, (1 004.25±65.05) U/L)] and ALT [(1 172.51±180.31) U/L, (583.50±164.75) U/L] levels were increased in IRI group and IL-22+ IRI group (AST F=293.62; ALT F=30.33, P<0.05). The levels of MDA in IRI group and IL-22+ IRI group [(1.72±0.12) μmol/mg, (0.98±0.05) μmol/mg] in liver tissue were higher than those in Sham group (0.58±0.14) μmol/mg protein ( F=186.73, P<0.05), and the expression of p-STAT3, Nrf2 and HO-1 was increased. SOD level in IRI group (28.51±3.85) U/mg was lower than that in Sham group (70.25±5.64) U/mg protein ( F=203.41, P<0.05). Compared with IRI group, serum AST and ALT levels in IL-22+ IRI group were decreased, SOD activity in liver tissue was increased, MDA level was decreased, and p-STAT3, Nrf2 and HO-1 expression was increased (all P<0.05). Conclusion:IL-22 could alleviate liver IRI in rats, and the mechanism may be related to the activation of STAT3 and Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway and anti-oxidative stress.