Basic Research
Copyright ©2005 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Mar 21, 2005; 11(11): 1605-1609
Published online Mar 21, 2005. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v11.i11.1605
Attenuation of graft ischemia-reperfusion injury by urinary trypsin inhibitor in mouse intestinal transplantation
Ji-Ren Yu, Sheng Yan, Xiao-Sun Liu, Yi-Jun Wu, Pei-Feng Fu, Li-Hua Wu, Shu-Sen Zheng
Ji-Ren Yu, Sheng Yan, Xiao-Sun Liu, Yi-Jun Wu, Pei-Feng Fu, Li-Hua Wu, Shu-Sen Zheng, Department of Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, Zhejiang Province, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by the Health Scientific Grant 2002 of Zhejiang Province, China. No. 2002ZX021
Correspondence to: Dr. Ji-Ren Yu, Department of Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Qingchun Road 79, Hangzhou 310003, Zhejiang Province, China. yansheng_cn@yahoo.com
Telephone: +86-571-87236852
Received: September 10, 2004
Revised: September 12, 2004
Accepted: October 26, 2004
Published online: March 21, 2005
Abstract

AIM: Ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury is one of the major obstacles for intestinal transplantation (ITx). Urinary trypsin inhibitor (Ulinastatin, UTI) suppresses proteases and stabilizes lysosomal membranes. We supposed that Ulinastatin would diminish I/R injury of intestinal graft.

METHODS: UTI- treated group and untreated control group were investigated by histological assessment at 1.5, 4, 24, and 72 h after ITx. Myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity was used as the activity of neutrophils, and malondialdehyde (MDA) was used as an index of lipid peroxidation. TNFα and i-NOS mRNA expression in graft tissue were measured by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. CD11b+ Gr1+ cells in graft lamina propria were analyzed by flow cytometry.

RESULTS: Histological scores of the graft showed that the tissue injury was markedly attenuated by UTI treatment at different time points after ITx, with reduced MPO and MDA value in the grafts. The expression of TNFα and i-NOS mRNA was profoundly inhibited, while the infiltration of CD11b+ Gr1+ cells into the intestinal graft was decreased in UTI group.

CONCLUSION: Urinary trypsin inhibitor attenuates I/R injury in mouse intestinal transplantation by reducing monocytes infiltration and down-regulation of TNFα and i-NOS mRNA expression.

Keywords: Ischemia/reperfusion injury, Ulinastatin, Intestinal transplantation