Abstract
Background Liver transplantation induces self-injury and affects remote organs, such as the lung, kidney, and intestine. Postoperative intestinal dysfunction has been associated with prolonged hospitalization and affects a patient's health and quality of life. Electroacupuncture (EA) has been proven effective in multiple organ protection. However, the potential mechanism underlying the protective effects of EA on intestinal injury after liver transplantation remains unclear. Methods After establishing an autogenous orthotopic liver transplantation (AOLT) model, we studied the effects of EA pretreatment on intestinal injury after AOLT. We used the JAK2-specific inhibitor AG490 to explore the underlying mechanism. Histological analysis and apoptosis assays were used to evaluate intestinal injury. Oxidative stress index and inflammatory response were also measured after AOLT. Furthermore, we detected the phosphorylation levels of JAK2, STAT1, and STAT3 by Western blot. Results We found that pretreatment with EA alleviated intestinal injury after AOLT, as shown by HE staining and TUNEL methods. EA pretreatment inhibited the expressions of p-JAK2, p-STAT1, and p-STAT3 in the intestines after AOLT. Upon treatment with JAK2-specific inhibitor AG490, intestinal injury was balanced. Conclusion The data indicated EA pretreatment alleviated intestinal injury after AOLT by inhibiting the JAK/STAT signaling pathway. These results provide basic evidence to support the potential therapeutic efficacy of EA.
Highlights
Liver transplantation is the most effective method to address end-stage liver diseases
To examine the protective effect of EA pretreatment against intestinal injury after autogenous orthotopic liver transplantation (AOLT), each rat was analyzed by histopathology, and the intestinal mucous damage score was calculated
EA pretreatment combined with AG490 improved intestinal damage; no significant differences were observed between the EA+sham group and the EA+AOLT+AG490 group (Figures 2)
Summary
Postoperative intestinal dysfunction remains associated with prolonged hospitalization and affects a patient’s health and quality of life. Based on Nozato et al.’s study [5], we established an autogenous orthotopic liver transplantation (AOLT) model in rats, which can well imitate the clinical surgery process. The potential mechanism underlying the protective effects of EA on intestinal injury after liver transplantation remains unclear. After establishing an autogenous orthotopic liver transplantation (AOLT) model, we studied the effects of EA pretreatment on intestinal injury after AOLT. The data indicated EA pretreatment alleviated intestinal injury after AOLT by inhibiting the JAK/STAT signaling pathway. These results provide basic evidence to support the potential therapeutic efficacy of EA
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