Heme oxygenase 1 expression in postischemic reperfusion liver damage: effect of L‐Arginine

Abstract

Ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury is a multifactorial process that affects liver function after transplantation and resectional surgery. Alterations in hepatic microcirculation and decreased hepatic flow can cause local hypoxia and consequently liver damage, which is worsened by reperfusion. The aim of this study was to evaluate if treatment with L-arginine improved hepatic function in rats with I/R injury. Animals were treated with L-arginine, ischemized for 30 min, and reperfused for 3 h. Plasmatic levels of GOT, GPT, lipid hydroperoxides (LOOH), and total thiol groups (RSH) were evaluated. In addition, we analyzed hepatic LOOH and RSH levels, DNA fragmentation, heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) expression, and histological modifications. Our results demonstrate a significant improvement in hepatic function of I/R rats compared to the control group. Treatment with L-arginine increased the expression of HO-1. These data suggest that L-arginine could be useful in preventing oxidative damage during hepatic surgery.

Pharmacological Preconditioning Using Intraportal Infusion of L-Arginine Protects Against Hepatic Ischemia Reperfusion Injury

“…Among these substances are antioxidants, protease inhibitors, antiapoptotic molecules, adenosine agonists, NO donors, or NO precursors (such as L-arginine) [31,32]. The first hours of reperfusion are characterized by low NO concentrations [6,12,17], and experimental models have demonstrated that maintaining NO levels during reperfusion by administering L-arginine attenuates liver I/RI; however, most of these studies used peripheral or peritoneal intravenous infusion [4,6,[12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19]33].…”

Pharmacological and Clinical Aspects of Heme Oxygenase

“…The vasodilator, dihydralazine, increased nutritive portal and hepatic microvascular flow and limited liver injury after hemorrhagic shock (Schmidt et al, 2006). Treatment with L-arginine increased the expression of HO-1, suggesting that L-arginine could prevent oxidative damage during hepatic surgery (Lanteri et al, 2006).…”

Beneficial effects of rutin andl-arginine coadministration in a rat model of liver ischemia-reperfusion injury

“…Several free radical scavengers have been evaluated in I/R injury (12,37). In particular, previous studies have demonstrated the antioxidant properties of rutin and the implication of L-arginine in NO-mediated pathways (24,25,33). The aim of the present study was therefore to evaluate the effects of coadministration of rutin and L-arginine on hepatic structural and functional parameters in rats submitted to an experimental model of hepatic I/R.…”