Remote ischemic preconditioning protects liver ischemia-reperfusion injury by regulating eNOS-NO pathway and liver microRNA expressions in fatty liver rats

BACKGROUND: Ischemic preconditioning (IPC) is a strategy to reduce ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. The protective effect of remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) on liver I/R injury is not clear. This study aimed to investigate the roles of RIPC in liver I/R in fatty liver rats and the involvement of endothelial nitric oxide synthase-nitric oxide (eNOS-NO) pathway and microRNA expressions in this process. METHODS: A total of 32 fatty rats were randomly divided into the sham group, I/R group, RIPC group and RIPC+I/R group. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and nitric oxide (NO) were measured. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to observe histological changes of liver tissues, TUNEL to detect hepatocyte apoptosis, and immunohistochemistry assay to detect heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) expression. Western blotting was used to detect liver inducible NOS (iNOS) and eNOS protein levels and realtime quantitative polymerase chain reaction to detect miR-34a, miR-122 and miR-27b expressions. RESULTS: Compared with the sham and RIPC groups, serum ALT, AST and iNOS in liver tissue were significantly higher in other two groups, while serum NO and eNOS in liver tissue were lower, and varying degrees of edema, degeneration and inflammatory cell infiltration were found. Cell apoptosis number was slightly lower in the RIPC+I/R group than that in I/R group. Compared with the sham group, HSP70 expressions were significantly increased in other three groups (all P<0.05). Compared with the sham and RIPC groups, elevated miR-34a expressions were found in I/R and RIPC+I/R groups (P<0.05). MiR-122 and miR-27b were found significantly decreased in I/R and RIPC+I/R groups compared with the sham and RIPC groups (all P<0.05). CONCLUSION: RIPC can reduce fatty liver I/R injury by affecting the eNOS-NO pathway and liver microRNA expressions.

Protective effects of remote ischemic preconditioning in rat hindlimb on ischemia- reperfusion injury

Three cycles of remote ischemic pre-conditioning induced by temporarily occluding the bilateral femoral arteries （10 minutes） prior to 10 minutes of reperfusion were given once a day for 3 days before the animal received middle artery occlusion and reperfusion surgery. The results showed that brain infarct volume was significantly reduced after remote ischemic pre-conditioning. Scores in the forelimb placing test and the postural reflex test were significantly lower in rats having undergone remote ischemic pre-conditioning compared with those who did not receive remote ischemic pre-conditioning. Thus, neurological function was better in rats having undergone remote ischemic pre-conditioning compared with those who did not receive remote ischemic pre-conditioning. These results indicate that remote ischemic pre-conditioning in rat hindlimb exerts protective effects in ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Effect of remote ischemic preconditioning among donors and recipients following pediatric liver transplantation:A randomized clinical trial

BACKGROUND Studies suggested that remote ischemic preconditioning(RIPC)may effectively lessen the harmful effects of ischemia reperfusion injury during organ transplantation surgery.AIM To investigate the protective effects of RIPC on living liver donors and recipients following pediatric liver transplantation.METHODS From January 2016 to January 2019 at Renji Hospital Affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine,208 donors were recruited and randomly assigned to four groups:S-RIPC group(no intervention;n=55),D-RIPC group(donors received RIPC;n=51),R-RIPC group(recipients received RIPC,n=51)and DR-RIPC group(both donors and recipients received RIPC;n=51).We primarily evaluated postoperative liver function among donors and recipients and incidences of early allograft dysfunction,primary nonfunction and postoperative complications among recipients.RESULTS RIPC did not significantly improve alanine transaminase and aspartate aminotransferase levels among donors and recipients or decrease the incidences of early allograft dysfunction,primary nonfunction,and postoperative complications among recipients.Limited protective effects were observed,including a lower creatinine level in the D-RIPC group than in the S-RIPC group on postoperative day 0(P<0.05).However,no significant improvements were found in donors who received RIPC.Furthermore,RIPC had no effects on the overall survival of recipients.CONCLUSION The protective effects of RIPC were limited for recipients who received living liver transplantation,and no significant improvement of the prognosis was observed in recipients.