Resveratrol Prevents Warm Ischemia–Reperfusion Injury in Liver Grafts From Non–Heart-Beating Donor Rats

• Published in: Transplantation proceedings 2016-05, Vol.48 (4), p.1221-1225
• Main Authors: Shimizu, K, Miyagi, S, Miyazawa, K, Maida, K, Kashiwadate, T, Hara, Y, Goto, M, Kawagishi, N, Ohuchi, N
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Liver Transplantation - methods; Male; Protective Agents - therapeutic use; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Reperfusion Injury - diagnosis; Reperfusion Injury - prevention & control; Stilbenes - therapeutic use; Surgery; Treatment Outcome; Warm Ischemia
• ISSN: 0041-1345; 1873-2623
• DOI: 10.1016/j.transproceed.2015.11.031

Abstract Background Successful liver transplantation from non–heart-beating donors (NHBDs) might enlarge donor source. Some studies have reported that resveratrol (RES), an activator of sirtuins, has cytoprotective effects on ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of RES on warm I/R injury in rats. Methods Male Wister rats were divided into 5 groups: (1) the heart-beating (HB) group, whose livers were retrieved from HB donors; (2) the NHB group, whose livers were retrieved under apnea-induced NHB conditions; (3) the ethanol group, retrieved in the same manner as the NHB group with ethanol (10 μL) as a solvent; (4) the RES-1 group, retrieved in the same manner as the NHB group and pretreated with RES (0.4 mg/kg, dissolved in 10 μL ethanol); and (5) the RES-2 group, retrieved in the same manner as the NHB group and pretreated with RES (2 mg/kg, dissolved in 10 μL ethanol). The resected livers were perfused for 60 minutes with Krebs-Henseleit bicarbonate buffer after 6 hours of cold preservation, after which the perfusate and liver tissues were investigated. Results The bile production, portal vein flow volume, tumor necrosis factor-α level, and adenosine triphosphate level in the RES-2 group were significantly improved compared with in the NHB group. Histology revealed numerous well-preserved sinusoidal endothelial cells in the RES-2 group. Conclusions RES might reduce warm I/R injury and improve the viability of liver grafts from NHBDs. We considered that this method may represent a promising approach for clinical liver transplantation from NHBDs.