Abstract
Background Both apoptosis and necroptosis have been recognized to be involved in ischemia reperfusion-induced lung injury. We aimed to compare the efficacies of therapies targeting necroptosis and apoptosis and to determine if there is a synergistic effect between the two therapies in reducing lung ischemia reperfusion injury. Methods Forty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into 5 groups: sham (SM) group, ischemia reperfusion (IR) group, necrostatin-1+ischemia reperfusion (NI) group, carbobenzoxy-Val-Ala-Asp-fluoromethylketone+ischemia reperfusion (ZI) group, and necrostatin-1+carbobenzoxy-Val-Ala-Asp-fluoromethylketone+ischemia reperfusion (NZ) group. The left lung hilum was exposed without being clamped in rats from the SM group, whereas the rats were subjected to lung ischemia reperfusion by clamping the left lung hilum for 1 hour, followed by reperfusion for 3 hours in the IR group. 1 mg/kg necrostatin-1 (Nec-1: a specific necroptosis inhibitor) and 3 mg/kg carbobenzoxy-Val-Ala-Asp-fluoromethylketone (z-VAD-fmk: a pan caspase inhibitor) were intraperitoneally administrated prior to ischemia in NI and ZI groups, respectively, and the rats received combined administration of Nec-1 and z-VAD-fmk in the NZ group. Upon reperfusion, expressions of receptor-interacting protein 1 (RIP1), receptor-interacting protein 3 (RIP3), and caspase-8 were measured, and the flow cytometry analysis was used to assess the cell death patterns in the lung tissue. Moreover, inflammatory marker levels in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and pulmonary edema were evaluated. Results Both Nec-1 and z-VAD-fmk, either alone or in combination, significantly reduced morphological damage, inflammatory markers, and edema in lung tissues following reperfusion, and cotreatment of z-VAD-fmk with Nec-1 produced the optimal effect. The rats treated with Nec-1 had lower levels of inflammatory markers in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid than those receiving z-VAD-fmk alone (P < 0.05). Interestingly, the z-VAD-fmk administration upregulated RIP1 and RIP3 expressions in the lung tissue from the ZI group compared to those in the IR group (P < 0.05). Reperfusion significantly increased the percentages of necrotic and apoptotic cells in lung tissue single-cell suspension, which could be decreased by Nec-1 and z-VAD-fmk, respectively (P < 0.05). Conclusions Nec-1 synergizes the pan caspase inhibitor to attenuate lung ischemia reperfusion injury in rats. Our data support the potential use of Nec-1 in lung transplantation-related disorders.
Highlights
Lung transplantation is the most curative treatment for many end-stage lung diseases, but early graft failure caused by ischemia reperfusion (IR) remains a formidable obstacle for both early and late survival of lung allografts [1, 2]
Morphological damages in the lung tissue were significantly alleviated in both necrostatin-1+ischemia reperfusion (NI) and ZI groups, but the rats in the necrostatin-1+carbobenzoxy-Val-AlaAsp-fluoromethylketone+ischemia reperfusion (NZ) group showed the most improved morphological structures compared with the IR group (Figures 1(a)–1(e) and 2)
Data were presented as mean ± SD, n = 8 in each group. aP < 0:05 compared with the SM group, bP < 0:05 compared with the IR group, cP < 0:05 compared with the NI group, dP < 0:05 compared with the ZI group
Summary
Lung transplantation is the most curative treatment for many end-stage lung diseases, but early graft failure caused by ischemia reperfusion (IR) remains a formidable obstacle for both early and late survival of lung allografts [1, 2]. Necrosis is suggested to be involved in IR-induced lung injury as well [7], but it is not considered as an effective therapeutic target previously, since necrosis is traditionally defined as a nonregulated and accidental type of cell death. Both apoptosis and necroptosis have been recognized to be involved in ischemia reperfusion-induced lung injury. Both Nec-1 and z-VAD-fmk, either alone or in combination, significantly reduced morphological damage, inflammatory markers, and edema in lung tissues following reperfusion, and cotreatment of z-VAD-fmk with Nec-1 produced the optimal effect. Our data support the potential use of Nec-1 in lung transplantation-related disorders
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
