Original Articles
Copyright ©2009 The WJG Press and Baishideng. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jul 14, 2009; 15(26): 3240-3245
Published online Jul 14, 2009. doi: 10.3748/wjg.15.3240
Prophylaxis with carnosol attenuates liver injury induced by intestinal ischemia/reperfusion
Ji-Hong Yao, Xue-Song Zhang, Shu-Sen Zheng, Ying-Hua Li, Li-Ming Wang, Zhen-Zhen Wang, Liang Chu, Xiao-Wei Hu, Ke-Xin Liu, Xiao-Feng Tian
Ji-Hong Yao, Zhen-Zhen Wang, Liang Chu, Xiao-Wei Hu, Ke-Xin Liu, Department of Pharmacology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, Liaoning Province, China
Xue-Song Zhang, Ying-Hua Li, Li-Ming Wang, Xiao-Feng Tian, Department of General Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116023, Liaoning Province, China
Shu-Sen Zheng, Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, Zhejiang Province, China
Author contributions: Yao JH, Zheng SS, Wang LM, Liu KX and Tian XF designed the research; Zhang XS and Wang ZZ performed the research; Zhang XS, Li YH, Chu L and Hu XW analyzed the data; Yao JH and Tian XF wrote the paper.
Correspondence to: Dr. Xiao-Feng Tian, Department of General Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116023, Liaoning Province, China. txfdl@hotmail.com
Telephone: +86-411-84690722
Fax: +86-411-84672130
Received: April 14, 2009
Revised: May 25, 2009
Accepted: June 1, 2009
Published online: July 14, 2009
Abstract

AIM: To investigate the possible protective effects of carnosol on liver injury induced by intestinal ischemia reperfusion (I/R).

METHODS: Rats were divided randomly into three experimental groups: sham, intestinal I/R and carnosol treatment (n = 18 each). The intestinal I/R model was established by clamping the superior mesenteric artery for 1 h. In the carnosol treatment group, surgery was performed as in the intestinal I/R group, with intraperitoneal administration of 3 mg/kg carnosol 1 h before the operation. At 2, 4 and 6 h after reperfusion, rats were killed and blood, intestine and liver tissue samples were obtained. Intestine and liver histology was investigated. Serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and interleukin (IL)-6 were measured. Liver tissue superoxide dismutase (SOD) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity were assayed. The liver intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) were determined by immunohistochemical analysis and western blot analysis.

RESULTS: Intestinal I/R induced intestine and liver injury, characterized by histological changes, as well as a significant increase in serum AST and ALT levels. The activity of SOD in the liver tissue decreased after I/R, which was enhanced by carnosol pretreatment. In addition, compared with the control group, carnosol markedly reduced liver tissue MPO activity and serum IL-6 level, which was in parallel with the decreased level of liver ICAM-1 and NF-κB expression.

CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that carnosol pretreatment attenuates liver injury induced by intestinal I/R, attributable to the antioxidant effect and inhibition of the NF-κB pathway.

Keywords: Carnosol, Liver injury, Ischemia reperfusion, Nuclear factor κB