Effects Of Ischemic Preconditioning On Liver Regeneration After Partial Liver Transplantation In Rat Models

Objective Ischemic preconditioning (IPC) is known to protect the organfrom the detrimental effects of ischemic reperfusion injury(IRI) inclinical. IPC can render the liver more tolerant to subsequent prolongedepisodes of ischemia. In this research, we study the effects of ischaemicpreconditioning on liver regeneration after partial liver transplantation inrats model.Methods We established 50% and 30% partial rat's liver transplantationmodel using modified of two-cuff technique and resection the liver ofdonor in vivo. All rats were randomly divided into two groups: IPC groupand control group. IPC was performed by clamping of portal vein andhepatic artery of the donor for 10 minutes followed by reperfusion for 15minutes before harvesting. We examined the survival rate of two groups.At 2, 6, 24, 48 hours after portal vein reperfusion. We also examinedserum Alanine Aminotransferase(ALT) of both group after operation,graft samples were obtained to determine the hepatic levels ofTNF-α,IL-6 and PCNA. The express of proteins cyclin D/CDK4, cyclinE/CDK2, STAT3 and P-STAT3 using western blotting.Results After liver transplantation, the survival rate of IPC and control group of two volume categories had no significant difference. To the ALT,in 30% volume group ALT were lower in control group at 2,6,24 hours; in50% volume group, ALT were lower in IPC than control at 2,6 hours. ToPCNA, in 30% volume group, control group had more positive PCNAcells than IPC group at 48 hour, and in 50% volume group, IPC grouphad more positive PCNA cells than control group at 2,6,24 hours. Therewas no difference between two groups of hepatic TNF-αlevel in 30%volume group, but in the 50% volume group, the hepatic TNF-αlevel washigher in IPC than control. To the hepatic IL-6 level, in 30% group, IPCwas lower than control after transplantation, the reverse results werefounded in the 50% group. From western blot examination, we found theproteins labeled cell cycle and liver regeneration pathway in 30% groupexpressed more intensive in control than IPC. But to the 50% volumegroup, same proteins expressed more intensive in IPC than control.Conclusion After 30%-volume-graft liver transplantation, liverregeneration process are still active, but ischemic preconditioningimpaired the liver regeneration process compared with the control group.After 50%-size-graft liver transplantation. IPC can not only protect thegraft, but enhance the ability of liver regeneration.