Hypoxia inducible factor-1αaccumulation in steatotic liver preservation:Role of nitric oxide

AIM:To examine the relevance of hypoxia inducible factor(HIF-1)and nitric oxide(NO)on the preservation of fatty liver against cold ischemia-reperfusion injury(IRI). METHODS:We used an isolated perfused rat liver model and we evaluated HIF-1αin steatotic and non-steatotic livers preserved for 24 h at 4℃in University of Wisconsin and IGL-1 solutions,and then subjected to 2 h of normothermic reperfusion.After normoxic reperfusion,liver enzymes,bile production,bromosulfophthalein clearance,as well as HIF-1αand NO[endothelial NO synthase(eNOS)activity and nitrites/nitrates]were also measured.Other factors associated with the higher susceptibility of steatotic livers to IRI,such as mitochondrial damage and vascular resistance were evaluated. RESULTS:A significant increase in HIF-1αwas found in steatotic and non-steatotic livers preserved in IGL-1 after cold storage.Livers preserved in IGL-1 showed a significant attenuation of liver injury and improvement in liver function parameters.These benefits were enhanced by the addition of trimetazidine(an antiischemic drug),which induces NO and eNOS activation, to IGL-1 solution.In normoxic reperfusion,the presence of NO favors HIF-1αaccumulation,promoting also the activation of other cytoprotective genes,such as hemeoxygenase-1. CONCLUSION:We found evidence for the role of the HIF-1α/NO system in fatty liver preservation,especially when IGL-1 solution is used.

Sirtuin 1 in rat orthotopic liver transplantation:An I GL-1 preservation solution approach

AIM:To investigate the possible involvement of Sirtuin1(SIRT1)in rat orthotopic liver transplantation(OLT),when Institute Georges Lopez 1(IGL-1)preservation solution is enriched with trimetazidine(TMZ).METHODS:Male Sprague-Dawley rats were used as donors and recipients.Livers were stored in IGL-1 preservation solution for 8h at 4℃,and then underwent OLT according to Kamada’s cuff technique without arterialization.In another group,livers were stored in IGL-1 preservation solution supplemented with TMZ,at10-6 mol/L,for 8 h at 4℃and then underwent OLT.Rats were sacrificed 24 h after reperfusion,and liver and plasma samples were collected.Liver injury(transaminase levels),mitochondrial damage(glutamate dehydrogenase activity)oxidative stress(malondialdehyde levels),and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide(NAD+),the cofactor necessary for SIRT1 activity,were determined by biochemical methods.SIRT1 and its substrates(acFox O1,ac-p53),the precursor of NAD+,nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase(NAMPT),as well as the phosphorylation of adenosine monophosphate activated protein kinase(AMPK),p-m TOR,p-p70S6K(direct substrate of m TOR),autophagy parameters(beclin-1,LC3B)and MAP kinases(p-p38 and p-ERK)were determined by Western blot.RESULTS:Liver grafts preserved in IGL-1 solution enriched with TMZ presented reduced liver injury and mitochondrial damage compared with those preservedin IGL-1 solution alone.In addition,livers preserved in IGL-1+TMZ presented reduced levels of oxidative stress.This was consistent with enhanced SIRT1 protein expression and elevated SIRT1 activity,as indicated by decreased acetylation of p53 and Fox O1.The elevated SIRT1 activity in presence of TMZ can be attributed to the enhanced NAMPT protein and NAD+/NADH levels.Up-regulation of SIRT1 was consistent with activation of AMPK and inhibition of phosphorylation of m TOR and its direct substrate(p-p70S6K).As a consequence,autophagy mediators(beclin-1 and LC3B)were overexpressed.Furthermore,MAP kinases were regulated in livers preserved with IGL-1+TMZ,as they were characterized by enhanced p-ERK and decreased p-p38protein expression.CONCLUSION:Our study shows that IGL-1 preservation solution enriched with TMZ protects liver grafts from the IRI associated with OLT,through SIRT1 up-regulation.