Published online Apr 14, 2015. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v21.i14.4159
Peer-review started: November 9, 2014
First decision: December 11, 2014
Revised: December 30, 2014
Accepted: January 30, 2015
Article in press: January 30, 2015
Published online: April 14, 2015
AIM: To compare Institut Georges Lopez (IGL-1) and Celsior preservation solutions for hepatic endothelium relaxation and liver cold ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI).
METHODS: Two experimental models were used. In the first one, acetylcholine-induced endothelium-dependent relaxation (EDR) was measured in isolated ring preparations of rat hepatic arteries preserved or not in IGL-1 or Celsior solutions (24 h at 4 °C). To determine nitric oxide (NO) and cyclooxygenase EDR, hepatic arteries were incubated with L-NG-nitroarginine methyl ester (L-NAME), an inhibitor of endothelium nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), or with L-NAME plus indomethacin, an inhibitor of cyclooxygenase. In the second experiment, rat livers were cold-stored in IGL-1 or Celsior solutions for 24 h at 4 °C and then perfused “ex vivo” for 2 h at 37 °C. Liver injury was assessed by transaminase measurements, liver function by bile production and bromosulfophthalein clearance, oxidative stress by malondialdehyde levels and catalase activity and alterations in cell signaling pathways by pAkt, pAMPK, eNOS and MAPKs proteins level.
RESULTS: After cold storage for 24 h with either Celsior or IGL-1, EDR was only slightly altered. In freshly isolated arteries, EDR was exclusively mediated by NO. However, cold-stored arteries showed NO- and COX-dependent relaxation. The decrease in NO-dependent relaxation after cold storage was significantly more marked with Celsior. The second study indicated that IGL-1 solution obtained better liver preservation and protection against IRI than Celsior. Liver injury was reduced, function was improved and there was less oxidative stress. IGL-1 solution activated Akt and AMPK, which was concomitant with increased eNOS expression and nitrite/nitrate levels. Furthermore, MAPKs kinases were regulated in livers preserved with IGL-1 solution since reductions in p-p38, p-ERK and p-JNK protein levels were observed.
CONCLUSION: IGL-1 solution preserved NO-dependent relaxation better than Celsior storage solution and enhanced liver graft preservation.
Core tip: Vascular endothelium dysfunction plays an important role in various pathophysiological conditions. Protection of the vascular endothelium is a critical factor in organ preservation. This evaluation of the endothelium-dependent relaxation of rat hepatic artery after preservation in Celsior and Institut Georges Lopez (IGL-1) solutions provides the first head-to-head comparison of these two storage solutions. Our results show that cold storage of the hepatic artery with IGL-1 preserves nitric oxide-dependent endothelium-mediated relaxation better than cold storage with Celsior solution. In addition, we provide evidence that IGL-1 is more efficient than Celsior for liver preservation using an isolated perfused rat liver model.