Protective role of adiponectin in a rat model of intestinal ischemia reperfusion injury

AIM: To determine the potential protective role of adiponectin in intestinal ischemia reperfusion(I/R) injury.METHODS: A rat model of intestinal I/R injury was established. The serum level of adiponectin in rats with intestinal I/R injury was determined by enzymelinked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). The serum levels of interleukin(IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α were also measured by ELISA. Apoptosis of intestinal cells was detected using the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase d UTP nick end labeling assay. The production of malondialdehyde(MDA) and superoxide dismutase(SOD) and villous injury scores were also measured.RESULTS: Adiponectin was downregulated in the serum of rats with intestinal I/R injury compared with sham rats. No significant changes in the expression of adiponectin receptor 1 and adiponectin receptor 2 were found between sham and I/R rats. Pre-treatment with recombinant adiponectin attenuated intestinal I/R injury. The production of pro-inflammatory cytokines,including IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α, in rats with intestinal I/R injury was reduced by adiponectin pre-treatment. The production of MDA was inhibited, and the release of SOD was restored by adiponectin pre-treatment in rats with intestinal I/R injury. Adiponectin pre-treatment also inhibited cell apoptosis in these rats. Treatment with the AMP-activated protein kinase(AMPK) signaling pathway inhibitor, compound C, or the heme oxygenase 1(HO-1) inhibitor, Snpp, attenuated the protective effects of adiponectin against intestinal I/R injury. CONCLUSION: Adiponectin exhibits protective effects against intestinal I/R injury, which may involve the AMPK/HO-1 pathway.