Basic Research
Copyright ©2005 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Nov 7, 2005; 11(41): 6477-6482
Published online Nov 7, 2005. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v11.i41.6477
Acid fibroblast growth factor reduces rat intestinal mucosal damage caused by ischemia-reperfusion insult
Wei Chen, Xiao-Bing Fu, Shi-Li Ge, Tong-Zhu Sun, Wen-Juan Li, Zhi-Yong Sheng
Wei Chen, Xiao-Bing Fu, Tong-Zhu Sun, Wen-Juan Li, Zhi-Yong Sheng, Wound Healing and Cell Biology Laboratory, Burns Institute, 304th Clinical Department, General Hospital of PLA, Beijing 100037, China
Shi-Li Ge, Institute of Radiation Medicine, Academy of Military Medicine Sciences, Beijing 100850, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 30400172 and 30230370 and "973" programm NO.2005CB52203
Correspondence to: Professor Xiao-Bing Fu, Wound Healing and Cell Biology Laboratory, Burns Institute, 304th Clinical Department, General Hospital of PLA, 51 Fu Cheng Road, Beijing 100037, China. fuxb@cgw.net.cn
Telephone: +86-10-66867396 Fax: +86-10-88416390
Received: December 15, 2004
Revised: March 21, 2005
Accepted: March 24, 2005
Published online: November 7, 2005
Abstract

AIM: To detect the effects of acid fibroblast growth factor (aFGF) on apoptosis and proliferation of intestinal epithelial cells in differentiation or proliferation status to explore the protective mechanisms of aFGF.

METHODS: Wistar rats were randomly divided into sham-operated control group (C, n = 6), intestinal ischemia group (I, n = 6), aFGF treatment group (A, n = 48) and intestinal ischemia-reperfusion group (R, n = 48). Apoptosis of intestinal mucosal cells was determined with terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick-end labeling (TUNEL) technique. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) protein expression and distribution were detected with immunohistochemical method. Plasma levels of D-lactate were determined with modified Brandts method.

RESULTS: In A group, administration of exogenous aFGF could improve intestinal histological structure and decrease plasma D-lactate levels at 2-12 h after the reperfusion compared with R group. The apoptotic rates and PCNA protein expressions were not increased until 2 h after reperfusion and were maximal at 12 h. After reperfusion for 2-12 h, the apoptotic rates were gradually augmented along the length of jejunal crypt-villus units. Administration of aFGF could significantly reduce the apoptotic response at 2-12 h after reperfusion (P<0.05). Apoptosis rates in villus and crypt epithelial cells in A group at 12 h after reperfusion were (62.5±5.5)% and (73.2±18.6)% of those in R group, respectively. Treatment of aFGF could apparently induce protein expression of PCNA in intestinal mucosal cells of A group compared with R group during 2-12 h after reperfusion (P<0.05). There were approximately 1.3- and 1.5-times increments of PCNA expression levels in villus and crypt cells in A group at 12 h after reperfusion compared with R group, respectively.

CONCLUSION: Intestinal I/R insult could lead to histological structure change and apoptotic rate increment. The protective effects of aFGF against ischemia/reperfusion in rat intestinal mucosa might be partially due to its ability to inhibit ischemia/reperfusion-induced apoptosis and to promote cell proliferation of crypt cells and villus epithelial cells.

Keywords: Acid fibroblast growth; Ischemia; Reperfusion; Intestine; Crypt; Villus