Role Of NF-κB In Propofol Against Rat Hepatic Ischemia-reperfusion Injury

Objective:The present study examined the effects of propofol on the rat hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury as well as the role of hepatocyte NF-κB activation and nuclear translocation when propofol was applied in the process of ischemia and reperfusion.Methods:Forty male SD rats were randomly subjected to sham-operation (group N), or the ischemia of partial hepatic ischemia (1 h) and reperfusion (2 h) as group I/R, or administer of 10 mg?kg-1?h-1 propofol followed by sham operation (group P), or I/R and administer of propofol simultaneously (group PIR). Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) as well as hepatic histopathological changes were measured. RT-PCR was used to detect the transcription of hepatocyte NF-κB; Western blotting was used to detect the expression of hepatocyte NF-κB; Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the nuclear translocation of hepatocyte NF-κB.Results:Hepatic ischemia followed by reperfusion in group I/R significantly increased the serum levels of ALT and AST that were much higher than those in groups N and P (P<0.05). The obvious ischemia-reperfurion injury was observed under light microscope in group IR, including congestion, mild lymphatic infiltration, fatty degeneration and punctiform necrosis in hepatocytes.Hepatic ischemia followed by reperfusion in group IR significantly increased NF-κB mRNA and protein levels as compared with those in groups N and P (P<0.05). Plenty of dark brown stained particles were observed in the cytoplasm and nucleus of hepatocytes, indicating nuclear translocation and activation of NF-κB were enhanced.Propofol administered simultaneously with ischemia-reperfusion significantly decreased the serum levels of ALT and AST as compared with those in group I/R (P<0.05), and also relieved the histopathological changes as well as the ischemia-reperfusion injury of the liver.In addition, propofol inhibited the mRNA and protein levels and nuclear translocation of NF-κB in group PIR as compared with those in group I/R.Conclusions:The results suggest that propofol protects the liver from ischemia-reperfusion injury, which involves the inhibited expression and translocation of NF-κB.