Role In Hepatic Ischemia-reperfusion Injury Research Articles

Comprehensive analysis of cuproptosis-related genes involved in immune infiltration and their use in the diagnosis of hepatic ischemia‒reperfusion injury: an experimental Study.

Hepatic ischemia reperfusion injury (HIRI) is a common injury not only during liver transplantation but also during major hepatic surgery. HIRI causes severe complications and affects the prognosis and survival of patients. Cuproptosis, a newly identified form of cell death, plays an important role in a variety of illnesses. However, its role in HIRI remains unknown. The GSE151648 dataset was mined from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, and differences were analyzed for intersections. Based on the differentially expressed genes (DEGs), functional annotation, differentially expressed cuproptosis-related genes (DE-CRGs) identification and lasso logistic regression were conducted. Correlation analysis of DE-CRGs and immune infiltration was further conducted, and DE-CRGs were applied to construct an HIRI diagnostic model. The hierarchical clustering method was used to classify the specimens of HIRI, and functional annotation was conducted to verify the accuracy of these DE-CRGs in predicting HIRI progression. The GSE14951 microarray dataset and GSE171539 single-cell sequencing dataset were chosen as validation datasets. At the same time, the significance of DE-CRGs was verified using a mouse model of HIRI with cuproptosis inhibitors and inducers. Finally, a network of transcription-factor-DE-CRGs and miRNA-DE-CRGs was constructed to reveal the regulation mechanisms. And potential drugs for DE-CRGs were predicted using Drug Gene Interaction Database (DGIdb). Overall, 2390 DEGs and 19 DE-CRGs were identified. Through machine learning algorithms, 8 featured DE-CRGs (GNL3, ALAS1, TSC22D2, KLF5, GTF2B, DNTTIP2, SLFN11 and HNRNPU) were screened, and 2 cuproptosis-related subclusters were defined. Based on the 8 DE-CRGs obtained from the HIRI model (AUC=0.97), the nomogram model demonstrated accuracy in predicting HIRI. Eight DE-CRGs were highly expressed in HIRI samples and were negatively related to immune cell infiltration. A higher level of immune infiltration and expression of CRG group B was found in the HIRI population. Differences in cell death and immune regulation were found between the 2 groups. The diagnostic value of the 8 DE-CRGs was confirmed in the validation of two datasets. The identification of 7 DE-CRGs (SLFN11 excluded) by HIRI animal model experiments was also confirmed. Using hTFtarget, miRWalk and DGIDB database, we predicted that 17 transcription factors, 192 miRNAs and 10 drugs might interact with the DE-CRGs. This study shows that cuproptosis may occur in HIRI and is correlated with immune infiltration. Additionally, a cuproptosis-related predictive model was constructed for studying the causes of HIRI and developing targeted treatment options for HIRI.

Predicting mitophagy-related genes and unveiling liver endothelial cell heterogeneity in hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Hepatic Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury (HIRI) is a major complication in liver transplants and surgeries, significantly affecting postoperative outcomes. The role of mitophagy, essential for removing dysfunctional mitochondria and maintaining cellular balance, remains unclear in HIRI. To unravel the role of mitophagy-related genes (MRGs) in HIRI, we assembled a comprehensive dataset comprising 44 HIRI samples alongside 44 normal control samples from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database for this analysis. Using Random Forests and Support Vector Machines - Recursive Feature Elimination (SVM-RFE), we pinpointed eight pivotal genes and developed a logistic regression model based on these findings. Further, we employed consensus cluster analysis for classifying HIRI patients according to their MRG expression profiles and conducted weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) to identify clusters of genes that exhibit high correlation within different modules. Additionally, we conducted single-cell RNA sequencing data analysis to explore insights into the behavior of MRGs within the HIRI. We identified eight key genes (FUNDC1, VDAC1, MFN2, PINK1, CSNK2A2, ULK1, UBC, MAP1LC3B) with distinct expressions between HIRI and controls, confirmed by PCR validation. Our diagnostic model, based on these genes, accurately predicted HIRI outcomes. Analysis revealed a strong positive correlation of these genes with monocytic lineage and a negative correlation with B and T cells. HIRI patients were divided into three subclusters based on MRG profiles, with WGCNA uncovering highly correlated gene modules. Single-cell analysis identified two types of endothelial cells with different MRG scores, indicating their varied roles in HIRI. Our study highlights the critical role of MRGs in HIRI and the heterogeneity of endothelial cells. We identified the macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) and cGAS-STING (GAS) pathways as regulators of mitophagy's impact on HIRI. These findings advance our understanding of mitophagy in HIRI and set the stage for future research and therapeutic developments.

Effect of ischemia-reperfusion injury on elafin levels in rat liver.

The aim of this study was to quantify serum levels of elafin, a serine protease inhibitor, and to assess its effects on histopathological and biochemical parameters in hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury. Forty female Wistar albino rats were divided into five groups: Group 1 served as the control group. Liver ischemia was induced for 30 minutes in the other four groups. An additional 1-hour, 2-hour, and 3-hour reperfusion was induced in Groups 3, 4, and 5, respectively. At the end of the experiment, intracardiac blood samples were obtained for biochemical examination, and tissue samples from the liver were taken for histopathological examination. Levels of elafin, ischemia-modified albumin (IMA), total antioxi-dant status (TAS), and total oxidant status (TOS) were also examined. Serum elafin levels decreased beginning from Group 2, with the lowest level reached in Group 5 (p<0.01). The IMA level was the lowest in the control group and the highest in Group 5 (p<0.01). TOS, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine amino-transferase (ALT) levels were lowest in the control group and highest in Group 5 (p<0.01). Group 5 had the highest IMA/albumin ratio, although no significant differences were found between these four groups. The lowest TAS level was found in the control group, but a stable and significant increase was not detected in the other groups. No significant differences were found between the groups in terms of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and albumin levels. A negative correlation was observed between serum elafin levels and AST, ALT, and TOS levels (p<0.01). The number of Grade 1 histopathological results was found to be higher in the groups with reperfusion (Groups 3, 4, 5). In histopathological subgroup analysis, while the elafin level was lower in Grade 1 group, AST, ALT, and TOS levels were higher (p<0.01). Additionally, the IMA/albumin ratio was found to be higher in the Grade 1 group (p=0.02). In hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury, elafin levels decreased as the reperfusion time increased. As the reperfusion time increased, both hepatocyte damage and oxidant capacity increased, with a negative correlation observed between these findings and elafin levels. Therefore, elafin may play a protective role in hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury and could assist clinicians in assessing liver injury.

Key m6A regulators mediated methylation modification pattern and immune infiltration characterization in hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury

BackgroundN6-methyladenosine (m6A) mRNA modification plays a critical role in various human biological processes. However, there has been no study reported to elucidate its role in hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI). This study was aimed to explore the expression pattern together with the potential functions of m6A regulators in hepatic IRI.MethodsThe gene expression data (GSE23649) of m6A regulators in human liver tissue samples before cold perfusion and within 2 h after portal vein perfusion from Gene Expression Omnibus database was analyzed. The candidate m6A regulators were screened using random forest (RF) model to predict the risk of hepatic IRI. The evaluation of infiltrating abundance of 23 immune cells was performed using single sample gene set enrichment analysis. Besides, quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) assay was carried out to validate the expression of key m6A regulators in mouse hepatic IRI model.ResultsThe expressions of WTAP, CBLL1, RBM15, and YTHDC1 were found to be increased in liver tissues 2 h after portal vein perfusion; in contrast, the expressions of LRPPRC, FTO, METTL3, and ALKBH5 were decreased. Based on RF model, we identified eight m6A methylation regulators for the prediction of the risk of hepatic IRI. Besides, a nomogram was built to predict the probability of hepatic IRI. In addition, the levels of WTAP, ALKBH5, CBLL1, FTO, RBM15B, LRPPRC and YTHDC1 were correlated with the immune infiltration of activated CD4 T cell, activated dendritic cell (DC), immature DC, mast cell, neutrophil, plasmacytoid DC, T helper (Th) cell (type 1, 2, and 17), gamma delta T cell, T follicular helper (Tfh) cell, myeloid-derived suppressor cell (MDSC), macrophage, natural killer cell, and regulatory Th cell. Among mouse hepatic IRI model, the mRNA level of CBLL1 and YTHDC1 was increased with statistical significance; however, the mRNA level of FTO and METTL3 was decreased among post-reperfusion liver samples compared with those in pre-reperfusion samples with statistical significance.ConclusionsThe m6A regulators exerted a pivotal impact on hepatic IRI. The m6A patterns that found in this study might provide novel targets and strategies for the alleviation/treatment of hepatic IRI in the future.

IL-22 relieves hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury by inhibiting mitochondrial apoptosis based on the activation of STAT3

IntroductionInterleukin-22 (IL-22) has been proven to exhibit a protective role in hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury (HIRI). This study aimed to explore the change of IL-22 and IL-22 receptor 1 (IL-22R1) axis in HIRI and its role in mitochondrial apoptosis associated with STAT3 activation. Materials and MethodsI/R mice were examined for the expression of IL-22, IL-22R1 and IL-22BP. The roles of IL-22 in hepatic histopathology and oxidative stress injuries (ALT, MDA and SOD) were determined. Oxidative stress damages of AML-12 cells were induced by H2O2, and were indicated by apoptosis, Ca2+ concentration, and mitochondrial function. The effects of IL-22 on p-STAT3Try705 were analyzed. ResultsWe found that the expression of IL-22, IL-22R1, and IL-22BP was elevated 24 h after I/R induction, while decreased 48 h after I/R induction. Furthermore, we also discovered that IL-22 rescued the morphological damages and dysfunction of hepatocytes induced by H2O2, which were antagonized by IL-22BP, an endogenous antagonist of IL-22. Additionally, increased levels of Ca2+ concentration, MDA, ROS, apoptosis and mitochondrial dysfunction were noticed in H2O2-treated hepatocytes. However, IL-22 ameliorated the effects of I/R or H2O2. The protective effects of IL-22 were reversed by AG490, a specific antagonist of STAT3. ConclusionsIn conclusion, our results indicated that IL-22 inhibited I/R-induced oxidative stress injury, Ca2+ overload, and mitochondrial apoptosis via STAT3 activation.

Inhibition of SK2 and ER stress ameliorated inflammation and apoptosis in liver ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) remains a major cause of mortality and morbidity after liver surgery. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is a critical mechanism of inflammatory injury during hepatic IRI. In this study, we investigated the effect of sphingosine kinases 2 (SK2) on ER stress and hepatic IRI. We established hepatic IRI mice and hepatocellular hypoxia/reoxygenation in vitro model. We observed the SK2 and ER stress protein IRE1α expression. Then, we used an SK2 inhibitor and knocked down IRE1α/SK2, to observe the effect of SK2 during IRI. Our results showed that the expression of ER stress and SK2 was significantly elevated during hepatic IRI. Inhibition of SK2 ameliorated liver inflammation and reduced cell apoptosis in hepatic IRI mice. Consistently, we found that the inhibition of IRE1α also downregulated SK2 expression and reduced mitochondrial membrane permeability. Furthermore, the knockdown of SK2 could also reduce cell damage and reduce the expression of inflammatory factors but did not influence ER stress-related signaling pathway. Taken together, our results suggested that ER stress and SK2 played important and regulatory roles in hepatic IRI. Inhibition of ER stress and SK2 could significantly improve liver function after hepatic IRI.

Hypothermic oxygenated perfusion attenuates DCD liver ischemia–reperfusion injury by activating the JAK2/STAT3/HAX1 pathway to regulate endoplasmic reticulum stress

BackgroundHepatic ischemia–reperfusion injury (IRI) in donation after cardiac death (DCD) donors is a major determinant of transplantation success. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress plays a key role in hepatic IRI, with potential involvement of the Janus kinase 2/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (JAK2/STAT3) pathway and the antiapoptotic protein hematopoietic-lineage substrate-1-associated protein X-1 (HAX1). In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of hypothermic oxygenated perfusion (HOPE), an organ preservation modality, on ER stress and apoptosis during hepatic IRI in a DCD rat model.MethodsTo investigate whether HOPE could improve IRI in DCD livers, levels of different related proteins were examined by western blotting and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Further expression analyses, immunohistochemical analyses, immunofluorescence staining, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining, and transmission electron microscopy were conducted to analyze the effects of HOPE on ER stress and apoptosis. To clarify the role of the JAK2/STAT3 pathway and HAX1 in this process, AG490 inhibitor, JAX1 plasmid transfection, co-immunoprecipitation (CO-IP), and flow cytometry analyses were conducted.ResultsHOPE reduced liver injury and inflammation while alleviating ER stress and apoptosis in the DCD rat model. Mechanistically, HOPE inhibited unfolded protein responses by activating the JAK2/STAT3 pathway, thus reducing ER stress and apoptosis. Moreover, the activated JAK2/STAT3 pathway upregulated HAX1, promoting the interaction between HAX1 and SERCA2b to maintain ER calcium homeostasis. Upregulated HAX1 also modulated ER stress and apoptosis by inhibiting the inositol-requiring enzyme 1 (IRE1) pathway.ConclusionsJAK2/STAT3-mediated upregulation of HAX1 during HOPE alleviates hepatic ER stress and apoptosis, indicating the JAK2/STAT3/HAX1 pathway as a potential target for IRI management during DCD liver transplantation.Graphical

Revealing the role of nitroxyl during hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury with a NIR-II luminescent nanoprobe.

Hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury (HIRI) can severely impair liver function and has a potential relationship with reactive nitrogen species. Nitroxyl (HNO) has been discovered to be involved in some biological functions and pharmacological activities. However, till now, there has been no knowledge of the role of HNO in the HIRI process, mainly because accurately tracking its fluctuation at the molecular level in vivo is extremely difficult. Herein, we developed a responsive ratiometric near-infrared-II (NIR-II) nanoprobe with rare earth ions-doped nanoparticles (RENPs) as the luminophore and a molecular trigger that can specifically react with HNO to regulate the NIR-II emission of RENPs. With this nanoprobe, we revealed the relationship between HNO and the HIRI process and demonstrated that HNO may be a product of stress reactions during HIRI. This work not only creates a useful tool for visually tracking HNO in vivo but also provides first-hand information about its role in HIRI.

Basic fibroblast growth factor protects against liver ischemia-reperfusion injury via the Nrf2/Hippo signaling pathway

Liver ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) continues to play a major role in liver dysfunction and failure, which is involved in the process of liver transplantation, partial hepatectomy, and hemorrhagic shock. Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is involved in a variety of biological processes. However, bFGF's role in hepatic IRI remains unclear. In our study, we constructed hepatic I/R surgery in WT and nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) KO mice and hypoxia-reoxygenation (H/R) model in AML12 cells to research bFGF's possible role. We found that the expression level of bFGF was highly upregulated in livers after hepatic IRI. In vivo, bFGF treatment led to a significant reduction in the necrotic area, accompanied by alleviation of oxidative stress, cell apoptosis, and inflammation in WT mice. bFGF-induced Nrf2 nuclear translocation and its downstream anti-oxidative proteins production in AML12 cells provide a mechanistic explanation for this phenomenon. In addition, bFGF-induced Nrf2 activation via the protein kinase B (AKT)/glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) pathway. bFGF activated Nrf2 to restrain the phosphorylation of promote Yes-associated protein (YAP) and YAP stabilization, thus reducing cell apoptosis and inflammation in ROS-dependent manner, revealed that Hippo signaling was the downstream of Nrf2 mediating protective effects of bFGF during hepatic IRI. In conclusion, our findings suggest that bFGF could reduce hepatic IRI and hepatocyte injury via the Nrf2/Hippo signaling pathway.

MicroRNA-141-3p attenuates oxidative stress-induced hepatic ischemia reperfusion injury via Keap1/Nrf2 pathway

Hepatic ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI) is a major factor affecting the prognosis of liver transplantation through a series of severe cell death and inflammatory responses. However, the potential role of miR-141-3p in hepatic IRI is currently unknown. We collected the serum of liver transplantation patients to study the relationship between miR-141-3p and liver injury. A mouse hepatic IRI model was established to measure hepatic dysfunction and cell apoptosis. MiR-141-3p mimic and inhibitor were transfected into hepatocytes to explore the characteristics of hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R), a classical hepatic IRI in vitro model. We found that miR-141-3p levels were negatively correlated with alanine aminotransferase (ALT)/aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in liver transplantation patients. The results demonstrated that miR-141-3p was decreased in mouse liver tissue after hepatic IRI in mice and in hepatocytes after H/R. Overexpression of miR-141-3p directly decreased Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1) levels and attenuated cell apoptosis in vivo and in vitro, while inhibition of miR-141-3p facilitated apoptosis. Further experiments revealed that overexpression of miR-141-3p also attenuated oxidative stress-induced damage in hepatocytes under H/R conditions. Our results indicate that miR-141-3p plays a major role in hepatic IRI through the Keap1 signaling pathway, and the present study suggests that miR-141-3p might have a protective effect on hepatic IRI to some extent.

Liraglutide Attenuates Hepatic Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury by Modulating Macrophage Polarization.

Ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) is a common complication associated with liver surgery, and macrophages play an important role in hepatic IRI. Liraglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analog primarily used to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity, regulates intracellular calcium homeostasis and protects the cardiomyocytes from injury; however, its role in hepatic IRI is not yet fully understood. This study aimed to investigate whether liraglutide can protect the liver from IRI and determine the possible underlying mechanisms. Our results showed that liraglutide pretreatment significantly alleviated the liver damage caused by ischemia-reperfusion (I/R), as evidenced by H&E staining, serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels, and TUNEL staining. Furthermore, the levels of inflammatory cytokines elicited by I/R were distinctly suppressed by liraglutide pretreatment, accompanied by significant reduction in TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 levels. Furthermore, pretreatment with liraglutide markedly inhibited macrophage type I (M1) polarization during hepatic IRI, as revealed by the significant reduction in CD68+ levels in Kupffer cells (KCs) detected via flow cytometry. However, the protective effects of liraglutide on hepatic IRI were partly diminished in GLP-1 receptor-knockout (GLP-1R-/-) mice. Furthermore, in an in vitro study, we assessed the role of liraglutide in macrophage polarization by examining the expression profiles of M1 in bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) from GLP-1R-/- and C57BL/6J mice. Consistent with the results of the in vivo study, liraglutide treatment attenuated the LPS-induced M1 polarization and reduced the expression of M1 markers. However, the inhibitory effect of liraglutide on LPS-induced M1 polarization was largely abolished in BMDMs from GLP-1R-/- mice. Collectively, our study indicates that liraglutide can ameliorate hepatic IRI by inhibiting macrophage polarization towards an inflammatory phenotype via GLP-1R. Its protective effect against liver IRI suggests that liraglutide may serve as a potential drug for the clinical treatment of liver IRI.

New progress in understanding roles of nitric oxide during hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury (HIRI) is a major clinical cause of morbidity and mortality in liver surgery and transplantation. Many studies have found that nitric oxide (NO) plays an important role in the HIRI and its increase or decrease can affect the progression and outcome of HIRI. However, the role of NO in HIRI is controversial and complicated. NO derived by endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) shows a protective role in HIRI, while excessive NO derived by inducible NO synthase (iNOS) accelerates inflammation and increases oxidative stress, further aggravating HIRI. Nevertheless, the overexpression of eNOS may exacerbate HIRI and iNOS-derived NO in some cases reduces HIRI. Here we review the new progress in the understanding of the roles of NO during HIRI: (1) NO possesses different roles in HIRI by increasing NO bioavailability, down-regulating leukotriene C4 synthase, inhibiting the activation of the nuclear factorκB (NFκB) pathway, enhancing cell autophagy, and reducing inflammatory cytokines and reactive oxygen species (ROS). And NO has both protective and deleterious effects by regulating apoptotic factors; (2) eNOS promotes NO production and suppresses its own overexpression, exerting a hepatoprotective effect reversely. Its activation is regulated by the PI3K/Akt and KLF2/AMPK pathways; and (3) iNOS derived NO mainly has deteriorating effects on HIRI, while it may have a protective function under some conditions. Their expression should reach a balance to reduce the adverse side and make NO protective in the treatment of HIRI. Thus, it can be inferred that NO modulating drugs may be a new direction in the treatment of HIRI or may be used as an adjunct to mitigate HIRI for the purpose of protecting the liver.

Curculigoside mitigates hepatic ischemia/reperfusion-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis via activation of the Nrf-2/HO-1 pathway.

Curculigoside has been shown to decrease oxidative stress and inflammatory reactions in many disorders, but its effects during hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) remain unknown. This research aims to determine the protective role and the potential mechanism of action of curculigoside in hepatic IRI. Here, a well-established rat model of partial warm IRI was constructed; serum ALT/AST and H&E staining were employed to assay the extent of liver injury; the superoxide dismutase, malondialdehyde, IL-6, and TNF-α contents were determined using the corresponding kits; the apoptosis index was evaluated by TUNEL staining; and the expression of Nrf-2, HO-1, and apoptosis-associated proteins was detected by qRT-PCR and Western blotting. The results showed that curculigoside pretreatment effectively mitigated hepatic IRI, as demonstrated by decreases in the levels of serum aminotransferases, hepatocellular necrosis and apoptosis, oxidative stress markers, infiltration of inflammatory cells, and secretion of proinflammatory cytokines. Mechanistically, the expression of Nrf-2 and HO-1 was greatly suppressed by hepatic IRI and reactivated by curculigoside. Furthermore, cotreatment with ML-385, an inhibitor of Nrf-2, counteracted the protective effect of curculigoside against hepatic IRI. The results of our study show that curculigoside plays a protective role in hepatic IRI by inhibiting oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis and that its effects may be associated with activation of the Nrf-2/HO-1 pathway.

Sulforaphane alleviates hepatic ischemia–reperfusion injury through promoting the activation of Nrf-2/HO-1 signaling

BackgroundSulforaphane (SFN)displays both anti-oxidative stress and anti-inflammatory activity. Given that inflammation and oxidative stress play important roles in hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury (HI/RI), we examined the protective effect and potential mechanism of SFN on HI/RI. MethodsThe maneuver of Pringle's was used to establish the mode of HI/RI and 60 SD rats were randomly divided into Sham, HI/RI, SFN and ML385 Groups. The expression of aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), Nuclear factor-E2-related factor 2(Nrf-2), heme oxygenase 1(HO-1), nitric oxide (NO), Cyclooxygenase2 (COX-2), NADPH quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1), malondialdehyde (MDA), tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and monocyte chemotactic protein 1(MCP-1) were measured. Moreover, hepatic pathological morphology and the activity of glutathione (GSH), Catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) of the liver were also examined. ResultsSFN treatment can significantly decrease the hepatic pathological injury and down-regulate the expression of ALT, AST, ALP, COX-2, TNF-a, IL-6, MCP-1, NO and MDA in HI/RI with increasing the expression of Nrf2, NQO1 and HO-1, and up-regulating the activity of GSH, CAT and SOD. Moreover, Nrf-2 inhibitor, ML385 can obliviously reverse the protective effect of SFN on HI/RI. ConclusionSulforaphane can inhibit the inflammatory response and oxidative stress induced by HI/RI through promoting the activation of the Nrf-2 / HO-1 signal pathway.

PPARγ Plays an Important Role in Acute Hepatic Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury via AMPK/mTOR Pathway.

Background Hepatic ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury is one of the severe complications associated with liver surgery and leads to liver dysfunction. PPARγ is always linked with various physiologic pathways, and it can alleviate liver damage in IR injury. Aim In this study, we explored the potential mechanism of PPARγ in the pathogenesis of hepatic IR injury by mice model. Methods After treated with si-PPARγ or rosiglitazone, mice were subjected to hepatic ischemia-reperfusion. Liver tissue and blood samples were collected to evaluate liver injury and detected relative mRNA and protein expressions. Results The expression of PPARγ was increased after reperfusion. And the alleviation of PPARγ aggravated the liver damage in IR; at the same time, upregulation of the expression of PPARγ released the liver damage. And these effects of PPARγ in IR were related to the AMPK/mTOR/autophagy signaling pathway. Conclusion PPARγ plays an important role in hepatic IR injury at least partly via the AMPK/mTOR/autophagy pathway.

The protective effects of fibroblast growth factor 10 against hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury in mice

Hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) is a major complication of liver surgery and transplantation. IRI leads to hepatic parenchymal cell death, resulting in liver failure, and lacks effective therapeutic approaches. Fibroblast growth factor 10 (FGF10) is a paracrine factor which is well-characterized with respect to its pro-proliferative effects during embryonic liver development and liver regeneration, but its role in hepatic IRI remains unknown. In this study, we investigated the role of FGF10 in liver IRI and identified signaling pathways regulated by FGF10. In a mouse model of warm liver IRI, FGF10 was highly expressed during the reperfusion phase. In vitro experiments demonstrated that FGF10 was primarily secreted by hepatic stellate cells and acted on hepatocytes. The role of FGF10 in liver IRI was further examined using adeno-associated virus-mediated gene silencing and overexpression. Overexpression of FGF10 alleviated liver dysfunction, reduced necrosis and inflammation, and protected hepatocytes from apoptosis in the early acute injury phase of IRI. Furthermore, in the late phase of IRI, FGF10 overexpression also promoted hepatocyte proliferation. Meanwhile, gene silencing of FGF10 had the opposite effect. Further studies revealed that overexpression of FGF10 activated nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) and decreased oxidative stress, mainly through activation of the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/AKT pathway, and the protective effects of FGF10 overexpression were largely abrogated in NRF2 knockout mice. These results demonstrate the protective effects of FGF10 in liver IRI, and reveal the important role of NRF2 in FGF10-mediated hepatic protection during IRI.

Mild Hypothermia Attenuates Hepatic Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury through Regulating the JAK2/STAT3-CPT1a-Dependent Fatty Acid β-Oxidation.

Hepatic ischemia–reperfusion (IR) injury is a clinical issue that can result in poor outcome and lacks effective therapies at present. Mild hypothermia (32–35°C) is a physiotherapy that has been reported to significantly alleviate IR injury, while its protective effects are attributed to multiple mechanisms, one of which may be the regulation of fatty acid β-oxidation (FAO). The aim of the present study was to investigate the role and underlying mechanisms of FAO in the protective effects of mild hypothermia. We used male mice to establish the experimental models as previously described. In brief, before exposure to in situ ischemia for 1 h and reperfusion for 6 h, mice received pretreatment with mild hypothermia for 2 h and etomoxir (inhibitor of FAO) or leptin (activator of FAO) for 1 h, respectively. Then, tissue and blood samples were collected to evaluate the liver injury, oxidative stress, and changes in hepatic FAO. We found that mild hypothermia significantly reduced the hepatic enzyme levels and the score of hepatic pathological injury, hepatocyte apoptosis, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial injury. In addition, the expression of the rate-limiting enzyme (CPT1a) of hepatic FAO was downregulated almost twofold by IR, while this inhibition could be significantly reversed by mild hypothermia. Experiments with leptin and etomoxir confirmed that activation of FAO could also reduce the hepatic enzyme levels and the score of hepatic pathological injury, hepatocyte apoptosis, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial injury induced by IR, which had the similar effects to mild hypothermia, while inhibition of FAO had negative effects. Furthermore, mild hypothermia and leptin could promote the phosphorylation of JAK2/STAT3 and upregulate the ratio of BCL-2/BAX to suppress hepatocyte apoptosis. Thus, we concluded that FAO played an important role in hepatic IR injury and mild hypothermia attenuated hepatic IR injury mainly via the regulation of JAK2/STAT3-CPT1a-dependent FAO.

Pyroptosis and hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury

Pyroptosis is a form of new programmed cell death which is dependent on Caspase-1 in recent years. When it’s stimulated by various dangerous signals from hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury, the intracellular pattern recognition receptors are assembled into inflammasomes and Caspase-1 which was transformed into active form. Activated Caspase-1 promotes the maturation and secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-18, initiates the innate immunity rapidly and then induces severe inflammatory reaction. In addition, Caspase-1 can also cleave Gasdermin D and release its N-terminal domain triggering pyroptosis. Many studies showed that pyroptosis play a crucial role in hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury. In this review, we discussed the activation mechanism and research progress of pyroptosis in hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury. Key words: Reperfusion injury; Liver; Caspase-1; Inflammasomes; Pyroptosis

NOD1 activates autophagy to aggravate hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury in mice.

Hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) is tissue damage resulting from return of the blood supply to the tissue after a period of ischemia or lack of oxygen. Much of the morbidity associated with liver transplantation and major hepatic resections is, in part, due to IRI. Both innate immunity and autophagy play important roles in hepatic IRI. With regard to innate immunity, one factor that plays a key role is NOD1, an intracellular pattern recognition receptor. NOD1 has recently been shown to be associated with autophagy, but the mechanisms involved with this process remain obscure. This relationship between NOD1 and autophagy prompted us to examine the role and potential mechanisms of NOD1 in regulating autophagy as related to hepatic IRI. We found that NOD1 was upregulated during hepatic IRI and was associated with an activation of the autophagic signaling pathway. Moreover, levels of Atg5, a critical protein associated with autophagy, were decreased when NOD1 was inhibited by NOD1 small interfering RNA. We conclude that NOD1 appears to exert a pivotal role in hepatic IRI by activating autophagy to aggravate hepatic IRI, and Atg5 was required for this process. The identification of this novel pathway, that links expression levels of NOD1 with Atg5-mediated autophagy, may provide new insights for the generation of novel protective therapies directed against hepatic IRI.

Low platelet counts after liver transplantation: validation of the 60-5 criterion

Background: Platelets play a critical role in hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury and regeneration. In a single-centre cohort of liver transplanted patients (derivation cohort), platelet counts <60x109/L at postoperative day 5 (POD5) (the 60-5 criterion) were shown to be an independent predicting factor for severe postoperative complications and early graft and patient survival. The aim of this study was to validate those findings using a validation cohort containing prospective data. Methods: The validation cohort comprised prospectively collected data on donors, recipients, perioperative laboratory values, graft function, complications and survival from 285 liver transplantations between 2008 and 2014. The primary outcome was grade IIIb/IV complications, secondary outcomes were graft and patient survival. Results: Mean patient and donor ages were 57 ±11.6 and 51 ±18.3 years respectively. The average MELD score was 18 ± 10.6. Patients with POD5 platelet counts <60 x109/L had higher rates of severe (grade IIIb/IV) complications [27.8% versus 16.8%, odds ratio (OR) 1.9 (95% CI 1.1-3.5), p<0.05] and worse 90-day mortality [6.1% versus 1.3%, OR 5.0 (95% CI 1.0-24.6), p<0.05]. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year graft and overall survival rates were similar in both groups. Conclusion: This study validates the 60-5 criterion as a predictor of severe complications and 90-day mortality after liver transplantation. These findings may help in developing protective strategies or interventions early after liver transplantation in high-risk patients.