Protection of Intrahepatic Injection of Liposome-mediated VEGF Plasmid against Ischemia-reperfusion Liver Injury / 华中科技大学学报(医学版)

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the effect of intrahepatic injection of liposome-mediated VEGF plasmid on ischemia-reper-fusion liver injury and its mechanism. Methods Rabbits were randomly divided into normal group, ischemia-reperfusion group and recombinant VEGF therapy group( liposome-mediated transfer of VEGF plasmid into liver via portal vein 20 min before ischemia of liver). The model of liver ischemia-reperfusion injury was established. Liver function and the activity of SOD.XO in blood were determined at the 0,2nd,6th,12th,and 24th h after operation. RT-PCR technique was applied to detect the expression level of Fas mRNA in liver tissues of every group,and flow cytometry was used to measure cell apoptosis rate at the 6th h after operation. At the 24th h after operation,all rabbits were killed and liver tissues of ischemia were taken to make pathological sections for observing the morphology and microstructure under the light microscopy and electron microscopy. ResuJts The level of ALT in recombinant VEGF therapy group was markedly reduced as compared with ischemia-reperfusion group at the 6th,12th,and 24th h after operation( P<0. 05). The activity of SOD in recombinant VEGF therapy group was significantly higher than in ischemia-reperfusion group at the 6th, 12th,and 24th h after operation. The activity of XO in recombinant VEGF therapy group was significantly lower than that in ischemia-reperfusion group at the 6th,12th,and 24th h after operation(P< 0. 05 or P<0. 01). In addition,there was significant difference in the expression of Fas mRNA and cell apoptosis rate between recombinant VEGF therapy group and ischemia-reperfusion group(P<0. 01). The injury of hepatocytes in recombinant VEGF therapy group was significantly alleviated as compared with that in ischemia-reperfusion group under the light microscopy and e-lectron microscopy. Conclusion Liposome-mediated transfer of VEGF plasmid into liver before ischemia of liver can obviously protect hepatocytes by increasing anti-oxidative ability, decreasing the expression of Fas mRNA, and finally inhibiting hepato-cyte apoptosis.