Value of serum liver fatty acid-binding protein in monitoring of hepatic function after the ischemiareperfusion injury

Abstract

Objective To investigate the diagnostic value and significance of serum liver fatty acid-binding protein (L-FABP) in hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury in rat.Methods Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups:sham operation group (group A) ; reperfusion after 15 min of ischemia group (group B) ; reperfusion after 30 min of ischemia group (group C).Each group was divided into 6 subgroups based on the time of reperfusion (15 min,1 h,3 h,6 h,1 d,3 d).The model of hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury was established,the level of alanine aminotransferase (ALT),aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and L-FABP were tested at each time point and the expression of L-FABP was tested by Immunohistochemical Fluorescence.The pathological changes observed in the liver and evaluated the changes by Suzuki's scoring system.Results Compared with group A,the changes of serum L-FABP:increased after 15 min of reperfusion [(0.57 ± 0.14) μg/L,P ＜ 0.05],reached the peak after 3 h of reperfusion [(1.70 ± 0.26) μg/L,P ＜ 0.05] and returned to normal at 3 d [(0.16 ± 0.05) μg/L,P ＞0.05] ; the changes of serum ALT and AST:no significant increase after 15min of reperfusion,reach the top at 6h and the level was still higher than normal at 3 d (P ＜ 0.05) ; L-FABP in liver tissue:the expression was decreased after 15min of reperfusion (0.148 ± 0.047,P ＜ 0.05),reached to the trough at 3 h (0.071 ± 0.019,P ＜ 0.05) and returned to normal at 3 d (0.142 ± 0.047,P ＞ 0.05).Compared with group B,the level of serum L-FABP,AST and ALT in group C were significandy increased at each time point (P ＜ 0.05),and the expression of L-FABP was significantly decreased (P ＜ 0.05),the pathological changes were significantly worse.Conclusion Compared with the traditional indicator of liver function (ALT,AST),L-FABP is the more sensitive indicator to monitor the hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury,and it consistents with the changes in the liver tissue pathology. Key words: Liver; Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury; Liver fatty acid-binding protein