Delayed xenon post-conditioning mitigates spinal cord ischemia/reperfusion injury in rabbits by regulating microglial activation and inflammatory factors

The neuroprotective effect against spinal cord ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats exerted by delayed xenon post-conditioning is stronger than that produced by immediate xenon post-conditioning. However, the mechanisms underlying this process remain unclear. Activated microglia are the main inflammatory cell type in the nervous system. The release of pro-inflammatory factors following microglial activation can lead to spinal cord damage, and inhibition of microglial activation can relieve spinal cord ischemia/reperfusion injury. To investigate how xenon regulates microglial activation and the release of inflammatory factors, a rabbit model of spinal cord ischemia/reperfusion injury was induced by balloon occlusion of the infrarenal aorta. After establishment of the model, two interventions were given： （1） immediate xenon post-conditioning—after reperfusion, inhalation of 50% xenon for 1 hour, 50% N2/50%O2 for 2 hours; （2） delayed xenon post-conditioning—after reperfusion, inhalation of 50% N2/50%O2 for 2 hours, 50% xenon for 1 hour. At 4, 8, 24, 48 and 72 hours after reperfusion, hindlimb locomotor function was scored using the Jacobs locomotor scale. At 72 hours after reperfusion, interleukin 6 and interleukin 10 levels in the spinal cord of each group were measured using western blot assays. Iba1 levels were determined using immunohistochemistry and a western blot assay. The number of normal neurons at the injury site was quantified using hematoxylin-eosin staining. At 72 hours after reperfusion, delayed xenon post-conditioning remarkably enhanced hindlimb motor function, increased the number of normal neurons at the injury site, decreased Iba1 levels, and inhibited interleukin-6 and interleukin-10 levels in the spinal cord.Immediate xenon post-conditioning did not noticeably affect the above-mentioned indexes. These findings indicate that delayed xenon post-conditioning after spinal cord injury improves the recovery of neurological function by reducing microglial activation and the release of interleukin-6 and interleukin-10.

Ischemic post-conditioning to counteract intestinal ischemia/reperfusion injury

Intestinal ischemia is a severe disorder with a variety of causes.Reperfusion is a common occurrence during treatment of acute intestinal ischemia but the injury resulting from ischemia/reperfusion(IR)may lead toeven more serious complications from intestinal atrophy to multiple organ failure and death.The susceptibility of the intestine to IR-induced injury(IRI)appears from various experimental studies and clinical settings such as cardiac and major vascular surgery and organ transplantation.Where as oxygen free radicals,activation of leukocytes,failure of microvascular perfusion,cellular acidosis and disturbance of intracellular homeo-stasis have been implicated as important factors inthe pathogenesis of intestinal IRI,the mechanisms underlying this disorder are not well known.To date,increasing attention is being paid in animal studies to potential pre-and post-ischemia treatments that protect against intestinal IRI such as drug interference with IR-induced apoptosis and inflammation processes and ischemic pre-conditioning.However,better insight is needed into the molecular and cellular events associated with reperfusion-induced damage to develop effective clinical protection protocols to combat this disorder.In this respect,the use of ischemic post-conditioning in combination with experimentally prolonged acidosis blocking deleterious reperfusion actions may turn out to have particular clinical relevance.

Oxygen Glucose Deprivation Post-conditioning Protects Cortical Neurons against Oxygen-glucose Deprivation Injury: Role of HSP70 and Inhibition of Apoptosis

In the present study, we examined the effect of oxygen glucose deprivation（OGD） post-conditioning（PostC） on neural cell apoptosis in OGD-PostC model and the protective effect on primary cortical neurons against OGD injury in vitro. Four-h OGD was induced by OGD by using a specialized and humidified chamber. To initiate OGD, culture medium was replaced with de-oxygenated and glucose-free extracellular solution-Locke＇s medium. After OGD treatment for 4 h, cells were then allowed to recover for 6 h or 20 h. Then lactate dehydrogenase（LDH） release assay, Western blotting and flow cytometry were used to detect cell death, protein levels and apoptotic cells, respectively. For the PostC treatment, three cycles of 15-min OGD, followed by 15 min normal cultivation, were applied immediately after injurious 4-h OGD. Cells were then allowed to recover for 6 h or 20 h, and cell death was assessed by LDH release assay. Apoptotic cells were flow cytometrically evaluated after 4-h OGD, followed by re-oxygenation for 20 h（O4/R20）. In addition, Western blotting was used to examine the expression of heat-shock protein 70（HSP70）, Bcl-2 and Bax. The ratio of Bcl-2 expression was（0.44±0.08）% and（0.76±0.10）%, and that of Bax expression was（0.51±0.05）% and（0.39±0.04）%, and that of HSP70 was（0.42±0.031）% and（0.72±0.045）% respectively in OGD group and PostC group. After O4/R6, the rate of neuron death in PostC group and OGD groups was（28.96±3.03）% and（37.02±4.47）%, respectively. Therefore, the PostC treatment could up-regulate the expression of HSP70 and Bcl-2, but down-regulate Bax expression. As compared with OGD group, OGD-induced neuron death and apoptosis were significantly decreased in PostC group（P0.05）. These findings suggest that PostC inhibited OGD-induced neuron death. This neuro-protective effect is likely achieved by anti-apoptotic mechanisms and is associated with over-expression of HSP70.

Adiponectin:mechanisms and new therapeutic approaches for restoring diabetic heart sensitivity to ischemic post-conditioning

Systemic inflammatory response following myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury(IRI)to a specific organ may cause injuries.Ischemic post-conditioning(IPostC)has emerged as a promising method for myocardial protection against IRI both in experimental and in clinical settings.Enhancement of endogenous nitric oxide(NO)is one of the major mechanisms by which IPostC confers cardioprotection.However,the sensitivity of the diabetic heart to IPostC is impaired and the underlying mechanism is unknown.Adiponectin(APN)is an adipocyte-derived plasma protein with anti-diabetic and anti-inflammatory properties.Plasma levels of APN are decreased in obese subjects and in patients with type 2 diabetes.APN supplementation has been shown to increase NO production and attenuate myocardial IRI in normal(non-diabetic)animals.However,the effect of APN on myocardial injury in diabetic subjects,especially its potential in restoring the sensitivity of the diabetic heart to IPostC has not been investigated.In the current paper,we discussed the possible reasons why the myocardium of diabetic subjects loses sensitivity to IPostC and also highlighted the potential effectiveness and mechanism of APN in restoring IPostC cardioprotection in diabetes.This review proposes to conduct studies that may facilitate the development of novel and optimal therapies to enhance cardioprotection in patients with severe diseases such as diabetes.

Effects of penehyclidine hydrochloride in small intestinal damage caused by limb ischemia-reperfusion

AIM:To investigate the protective effect of penehyclidine hydrochloride post-conditioning in the damage to the barrier function of the small intestinal mucosa caused by limb ischemia-reperfusion(LIR) injury. METHODS:Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups(36 rats each) :the sham-operation group(group S) ,lower limb ischemia-reperfusion group(group LIR) ,and penehyclidine hydrochloride postconditioning group(group PHC) .Each group was divided into subgroups(n=6 in each group) according to ischemic-reperfusion time,i.e.immediately 0 h(T1) ,1 h(T2) ,3 h(T3) ,6 h(T4) ,12 h(T5) ,and 24 h(T6) .Bilateral hind-limb ischemia was induced by rubber band application proximal to the level of the greater trochanter for 3 h.In group PHC,0.15 mg/kg of penehyclidine hydrochloride was injected into the tail vein immediately after 3 h of bilateral hind-limb ischemia.The designated rats were sacrificed at different time-points of reperfusion;diamine oxidase(DAO) ,superoxide dismutase(SOD) activity,myeloperoxidase(MPO) of small intestinal tissue,plasma endotoxin,DAO,tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) ,and interleukin(IL) -10 in serum were detected in the rats. RESULTS:The pathological changes in the small intestine were observed under light microscope.The levels of MPO,endotoxin,serum DAO,and IL-10 at T1-T6,and TNF-αlevel at T1-T4 increased in groups LIR and PHC(P<0.05) compared with those in group S,but tissue DAO and SOD activity at T1-T6 decreased(P<0.05) .In group PHC,the tissue DAO and SOD activity at T2-T6,and IL-10 at T2-T5 increased to higher levels than those in group LIR(P<0.05) ;however,the levels of MPO,endotoxin,and DAO in the blood at T2-T6,and TNF-αat T2 and T4 decreased(P<0.05) . CONCLUSION:Penehyclidine hydrochloride post-conditioning may reduce the permeability of the small intestines after LIR.Its protection mechanisms may be related to inhibiting oxygen free radicals and inflammatory cytokines for organ damage.

The role of glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta in brain injury induced by myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury in a rat model of diabetes mellitus

Myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury can lead to severe brain injury.Glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta is known to be involved in myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury and diabetes mellitus.However,the precise role of glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta in myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury-induced brain injury is unclear.In this study,we observed the effects of glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta on brain injury induced by myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury in diabetic rats.Rat models of diabetes mellitus were generated via intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin.Models of myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury were generated by occluding the anterior descending branch of the left coronary artery.Post-conditioning comprised three cycles of ischemia/reperfusion.Immunohistochemical staining and western blot assays demonstrated that after 48 hours of reperfusion,the structure of the brain was seriously damaged in the experimental rats compared with normal controls.Expression of Bax,interleukin-6,interleukin-8,terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase d UTP nick end labeling,and cleaved caspase-3 in the brain was significantly increased,while expression of Bcl-2,interleukin-10,and phospho-glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta was decreased.Diabetes mellitus can aggravate inflammatory reactions and apoptosis.Ischemic post-conditioning with glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta inhibitor lithium chloride can effectively reverse these changes.Our results showed that myocardial ischemic post-conditioning attenuated myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury-induced brain injury by activating glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta.According to these results,glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta appears to be an important factor in brain injury induced by myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury.