Cobalt protoporphyrin protects the liver against apoptosis in rats of brain death.

Brain death (BD) leads to a marked increase in apoptosis, which influences the viability of donor organs. Induction of heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) has been shown to exert beneficial effects in different liver injury models. Therefore, we examined the effect of pretreating rats with cobalt protoporphyrin (CoPP), an HO-1 inducer, on apoptosis in liver during BD and elucidated the mechanisms involved. First, rats were killed at 0, 1, 2, 4 and 6 h after BD induction to examine the expression of hepatic HO-1. Second, rats were randomly divided into four groups (n=6): (S group) rats undergoing sham operation, (CS group) rats pretreated with CoPP for 24 h before the sham operation, (B group) rats undergoing BD for 6 h, (CB group) rats pretreated with CoPP for 24 h before BD induction. The expression levels of hepatic HO-1 mRNA and protein in rats increased at 0, 1, 2, 4 and 6h after BD induction, compared with sham operated rats. In the CB group compared with the B group, the increased hepatic expression of HO-1 correlated with a significant decrease in serum ALT/AST levels, fewer apoptotic cells in liver, increased hepatic expression of Mcl-1 and Bcl-2, and decreased hepatic expression of Bax, cytosolic cytochrome c and cleaved caspase-3. CoPP inhibits apoptosis in liver of BD rats in part via modulating the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway. HO-1 may serve as a potential target for improving the quality of organs from BD donors.

Methylation of promoter and expression silencing of GPX3 gene in hepatocellular carcinoma tissue.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Accumulating evidence has identified transcriptional silencing by aberrant methylation of CpG islands as a potential mechanism for the inactivation of tumor suppressor genes. The role of aberrant methylation of the GPX3 promoter in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is not yet clear. We investigated the association of the status of GPX3 promoter methylation and GPX3 protein expression with the clinicopathological progression of HCC. METHODOLOGY: Sixty HCC tumor and matched non-cancerous tissues were included in this study, and methylation was examined using MSP. GPX3 mRNA and protein levels were evaluated using RT-PCR and western blot analysis, respectively. Clinicopathological data were compiled for correlation analyses. RESULTS: Among the 60 HCC cases, 76.7% (46/60) showed at elevated DNA methylation and displayed significantly lower levels of GPX3 mRNA and protein expression. Low or undetectable GPX3 protein expression was observed in 10 of 60 tumors. GPX3 promoter methylation was detected in 46 of 60 (76.7%) tumors, while no GPX3 gene promoter methylation was observed in the matched non-cancerous specimens. There was a negative correlation between promoter methylation and GPX3 mRNA levels (P<0.05). Analysis of clinicopathological data revealed that both mRNA and protein were significantly associated with portal tumor thrombosis, metastasis and differentiation. In additional, GPX3 methylation showed a relationship with portal tumor thrombosis, metastasis and differentiation. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that promoter methylation may be a mechanism for inactivation of GPX3, possibly leading to subsequent carcinogenesis and progression of HCC.

Protective effects of SP600125 in brain death-induced liver injury.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the protective effect of SP600125, a selective c-Jun N-terminal kinase inhibitor, in brain death-induced liver injury. All 40 Sprague-Dawley rats are anesthetized. Analysis of liver histology, function, JNK phosphorylation status, as well as apoptosis related protein was evaluated in this study. As a result, SP600125 diminished the increased phosphorylation of JNK, whereas, expression of total JNK in the liver remained unchanged compared with the sham control and was not affected by SP600125. At the same time, SP600125 attenuated Bax translocation to mitochondria and the release of cytochrome c induced by brain death. Furthermore, the activation of caspase-3 and apoptosis induced by brain death was also significantly suppressed by the administration of SP600125. The results obtained from the present study suggested that targeting the JNK pathway provided a therapeutic target in liver injury induced by brain death.

Modified brain death model for rats.

OBJECTIVES: Experimental animal models of brain death that mimic human conditions may be useful for investigating novel strategies that increase quality and quantity of organs for transplant. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Brain death was induced by increasing intracranial pressure by inflating an intracranial placed balloon catheter. Brain death was confirmed by flatline electroencephalogram, physical signs of apnea, and absence of brain stem reflexes. Donor management was done after brain death. Intracranial pressure and physiologic variables were continually monitored during 9 hours' follow-up. RESULTS: Ninety percent of brain dead animals showed typical signs of brain death such as diabetes insipidus, hypertensive, and hypotensive periods. Donor care was performed for 9 hours after brain death, and the mean arterial pressure was maintained above 60 mm Hg. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the rat model of brain death can be performed in a standardized, reproducible, and successful way.

Liver sinusoidal endothelial cell lectin, LSECtin, negatively regulates hepatic T-cell immune response.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The liver is an organ with paradoxic immunologic properties and is known for its tolerant microenvironment, which holds important implications for hepatic diseases. The molecular basis for this local immune suppression, however, is poorly understood. In this study, we aimed to determine the role of liver sinusoidal endothelial cell lectin (LSECtin), a recently identified member of the dendritic cell-specific ICAM-3 grabbing nonintegrin (DC-SIGN) family, in the regulation of hepatic T-cell immune response. METHODS: The regulation of T-cell effector function by LSECtin was determined by co-stimulated T cells with anti-CD3/CD28 monoclonal antibody and LSECtin protein, or co-culture of T-cell receptor transgenic T cells with mouse LSECs in vitro. We generated LSECtin knockout mice and prepared recombinant LSECtin protein and complementary DNA plasmids to analyze the role of LSECtin in hepatic T-cell immune regulation in vivo. RESULTS: We showed that LSECtin specifically recognized activated T cells and negatively regulated their immune responses. In mice with T-cell-mediated acute liver injury, the lack of LSECtin accelerated the disease owing to an increased T-cell immune response, whereas the exogenous administration of recombinant LSECtin protein or plasmid ameliorated the disease via down-regulation of T-cell immunity. CONCLUSIONS: Our results reveal that LSECtin is a novel regulator of T cells and expose a crucial mechanism for hepatic T-cell immune suppression, perhaps opening up a new approach for treatment of inflammatory diseases in the liver.