Losartan activates sirtuin 1 in rat reduced-size orthotopic liver transplantation

AIM: To investigate a possible association between losartan and sirtuin 1(SIRT1) in reduced-size orthotopic liver transplantation(ROLT) in rats.METHODS: Livers of male Sprague-Dawley rats(200-250 g) were preserved in University of Wisconsin preservation solution for 1 h at 4 ℃ prior to ROLT.In an additional group,an antagonist of angiotensin Ⅱ type 1 receptor(AT1R),losartan,was orally administered(5 mg/kg) 24 h and 1 h before the surgical procedure to both the donors and the recipients.Transaminase(as an indicator of liver injury),SIRT1 activity,and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide(NAD+,a co-factor necessary for SIRT1 activity) levels were determined by biochemical methods.Protein expression of SIRT1,acetylated Fox O1(ac-Fox O1),NAMPT(the precursor of NAD+),heat shock proteins(HSP70,HO-1) expression,endoplasmic reticulum stress(GRP78,IRE1 a,p-e IF2) and apoptosis(caspase 12 and caspase 3) parameters were determined by Western blot.Possible alterations in protein expression of mitogen activated protein kinases(MAPK),such as p-p38 and p-ERK,were also evaluated.Furthermore,the SIRT3 protein expression and m RNA levels were examined.RESULTS: The present study demonstrated that losartan administration led to diminished liver injury when compared to ROLT group,as evidenced by the significant decreases in alanine aminotransferase(358.3 ± 133.44 vs 206 ± 33.61,P < 0.05) and aspartate aminotransferase levels(893.57 ± 397.69 vs 500.85 ± 118.07,P < 0.05).The lessened hepatic injury in case of losartan was associated with enhanced SIRT1 protein expression and activity(5.27 ± 0.32 vs 6.08 ± 0.30,P < 0.05).This was concomitant with increased levels of NAD+(0.87 ± 0.22 vs 1.195 ± 0.144,P < 0.05) the co-factor necessary for SIRT1 activity,as well as with decreases in ac-Fox O1 expression.Losartan treatment also provoked significant attenuation of endoplasmic reticulum stress parameters(GRP78,IRE1 a,p-e IF2) which was consistent with reduced levels of both caspase 12 and caspase 3.Furthermore,losartan administration stimulated HSP70 protein expression and attenuated HO-1 expression.However,no changes were observed in protein or m RNA expression of SIRT3.Finally,the protein expression pattern of p-ERK and p-p38 were not altered upon losartan administration.CONCLUSION: The present study reports that losartan induces SIRT1 expression and activity,and that it reduces hepatic injury in a ROLT model.