Objective To investigate the role of Nrf2 in the pathogenesis of hepatic ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. Summary Background Data Hepatic I/R injury is a serious complication that leads to liver failure after liver surgery. NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a transcription factor that plays a critical role in protecting cells against oxidative stress. Therefore, it is suggested that Nrf2 activation protects the liver from I/R injury. Methods Wild-type (WT) and Nrf2-deficient mice were treated with 15-deoxy-Δ12, 14-prostaglandin J2 (15d-PGJ2), or a vehicle. Subsequently, these mice were subjected to 60 min hepatic 70% ischemia followed by reperfusion. Liver and blood samples were collected to evaluate liver injury and mRNA expressions. Results After hepatic I/R, Nrf2-deficient livers exhibited enhanced tissue damage, impaired GSTm1, NQO1, and GCLc inductions, disturbed redox state, and aggravated TNF-α mRNA expression in comparison to WT livers. 15d-PGJ2 treatment protected the livers of WT mice from I/R injury via increased expressions of GSTm1, NQO1 and GCLc, maintained redox status, and decreased TNF-α induction. These effects induced by 15d-PGJ2 were not seen in the livers of Nrf2−/− mice and were not annulled by PPARγ antagonist in Nrf2+/+ mice, suggesting that the protective effect of 15d-PGJ2 is mediated by Nrf2-dependent antioxidant response. Conclusions Nrf2 plays a critical role in the mechanism of hepatic I/R injury and would be a new therapeutic target for preventing hepatic I/R injury during liver surgery.

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The serum zinc, prealbumin, retinol-binding protein and carotene concentrations and the plasma fatty acid composition were determined to assess the nutritional condition of 24 patients with chronic pancreatitis compared with that of 20 healthy controls. The daily food intake and faecal fat excretion of the two groups were also measured. In the chronic pancreatitis group, the calorie and fat intakes were significantly lower than those of the controls. Serum levels of zinc, prealbumin and carotene were also significantly lower than those of the controls. Percentages of plasma linoleic and arachidonic acids were low, while percentages of palmitoleic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid were high. Fish oil intake correlated negatively with plasma linoleic acid concentration (P < 0.05). The above results indicate that the relatively high intake of fish oil and the relatively low intake of dietary fat in Japanese patients with chronic pancreatitis with a mild degree of steatorrhoea results in an abnormally low plasma level of linoleic acid.