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Membrane phospholipid breakdown, caused by ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) of the liver, releases free fatty acids including arachidonic acids and lysophospholipids, which serve as precursors of various inflammatory lipid derivatives. Phospholipase A2 (PLA2) is a key enzyme that initiates this reaction. In this study, we tested our hypothesis that a type II PLA2 inhibitor, LY329722, could attenuate hepatic I/R injury caused by a 2-hr total hepatic vascular exclusion (THVE) in dogs.Eighteen beagle dogs, subjected to a 2-hr THVE, were divided into three groups. Group 1 (n=6) was untreated and served as a control group. LY329722 was administered to animals in group 2 (n=6) intravenously (0.2 mg x kg(-1) x hr(-1)) for 60 min before ischemia, and to animals in group 3 (n=6) for 60 min starting 15 min before reperfusion (0.2 mg x kg(-1) x hr(-1)). Animal survival, systemic and splanchnic hemodynamics, hepatic tissue blood flow, liver functions, energy metabolism, hepatic venous thromboxane B2 and endothelin-1 levels, phospholipid levels and tumor necrosis factor-a mRNA expression in liver tissue, and histopathologic findings were evaluated.Two-week animal survival was 33% (two of six) in group 1, and 100% (six of six) in groups 2 and 3. LY329722 improved systemic and splanchnic hemodynamics, hepatic tissue blood flow, and energy metabolism, reduced liver enzyme, thromboxane B2, and endothelin-1 release, prevented hepatic phospholipid degradation and tumor necrosis factor-alpha mRNA expression, and lessened histopathologic damage and the number of neutrophil infiltrating into the liver tissue.The present study demonstrated that a type II PLA2 inhibitor, LY329722, attenuated hepatic I/R injury caused by a 2-hr THVE model in dogs. more...

Microcirculatory disturbance has been shown to play a critical role in hepatic ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) injury. Angiotensin II (AngII) is one of the most potent endogenous vasoconstrictors. Angiotensin II type I (AT1) receptor antagonist has been reported to have protective effects on I/R injury of the heart and kidney. However, effect on hepatic I/R injury has not been determined. In this study, we investigate our hypothesis that AT1 receptor antagonist, CV-11974, attenuates hepatic I/R injury.Twelve beagle dogs underwent a 2-hr total hepatic vascular exclusion with veno-venous bypass. CV-11974 was given to animals at a dose of 0.002 mg/ kg/min for 5 min followed by 0.001 mg/kg/min for 25 min via portal vein before ischemia (group II, n=6). Nontreated animals were used as the control (group I, n=6). Animal survival, hemodynamics, hepatic tissue blood flow (HTBF), liver function, platelet count, renin activity, and AngII concentration of hepatic vein, energy metabolism, and histopathology were analyzed.Two-week survival was 33% in group I, in contrast, 100% in group II. Mean arterial blood pressure during early reperfusion was maintained, and HTBF after reperfusion was significantly higher in group II. Treatment attenuated liver enzyme release and decrease of platelet count, increased renin and AngII, suppressed ATP degradation during ischemia and enhanced ATP resynthesis after reperfusion. Neutrophil infiltration and histopathological damages were lessened in group II.Our data demonstrated that the local renin-angiotensin system might play a role in hepatic microcirculation. AT1 receptor blockade with CV-11974 attenuated hepatic microcirculatory disturbance and ameliorated I/R injury. more...

The immunosuppressive effect and other properties of a novel immunosuppressant, FTY720, have been studied mostly in the experimental transplantation of various extrahepatic organs. In this experiment, we evaluated the antirejection potency and adverse effects of this agent on liver grafts using a canine liver transplantation model.Forty-eight orthotopic liver transplantations were performed by the standard technique under a veno-venous bypass. Liver recipients were divided into two studies: a single-dose study with FTY720 at various doses and a combined dose study with conventional immunosuppressants (cyclosporine or tacrolimus) alone and combined with FTY720. Survival, biochemical and hematological tests, blood levels of immunosuppressants, and postmortem histology were determined.The median survival of untreated control animals was 9 days, whereas treatment with FTY720 at a dose of 0.1 mg/kg/day prolonged graft survival to 49.5 days. FTY720 at 1 mg/kg/day showed a slight but insignificant prolongation to 16 days, but when the dose was increased to 5 mg/kg/day, the graft was rejected at 10 days. The combination of FTY720, 0.1 mg/kg/day, with a subtherapeutic dose of cyclosporine, 5 mg/kg/ day, prolonged median animal survival from 40 days with cyclosporine alone to 74 days. A combination of FTY720 (0.1 mg/kg/day) with tacrolimus (0.5 mg/kg/ day) compromised animal survival, reducing survival from 83.5 days with tacrolimus alone to 30.5 days due to infectious complication and emaciation by overimmunosuppression. No evident drug-induced side effects were observed.FTY720 has a potent immunosuppressive effect when used alone at 0.1 mg/kg/day in canine liver transplantation. FTY720 is a promising candidate for future clinical application in orthotopic liver transplantation. more...