Effect of the platelet-activating factor antagonist BN-52021 on liver preservation (4°): experimental study in isolated reperfused rat liver model

Abstract

PRESERVATION INJURY is a major contributor to primary allograft dysfunction and failure after liver transplantation. Several studies have shown that cold ischemia (CI) can damage the sinusoidal liver cells. During this process many inflamatory mediators are released locally and to the blood stream. The damaged endothelial cells produce the activation and adhesion of leukocytes. Finally, the infiltration of polymorphonuclear cells increases the cold ischemic lesion. Platelet-activating factor (PAF) is an inflammatory mediator produced by many cell types. It has been implicated in the microcirculatory failure after cold and warm ischemia. PAF antagonist BN-52021 is a natural compound extracted from ginkgo-biloba tree. Its beneficial effect has been reported in ischemia reperfusion injury of many organs. The objective of our study was to demonstrate that the PAF antagonist BN-52021 can attenuate the preservation injury. The isolated perfused rat liver model was employed for reperfusion evaluation.