Intravital Microscopy of Pulmonary Microcirculation After Single Lung Transplantation in Pigs

Annexin V homodimer protects against ischemia reperfusion–induced acute lung injury in lung transplantation

“…The disruption of the microcirculation with extremely reduced red blood cell velocities in the transplanted lung has been well described, with use of intravital microscopy in a pig model. 16 Additionally, significant numbers of apoptotic cells have been documented in human and animal transplanted lungs in the early reperfusion phase. [17][18][19] Apoptotic cells externalize phosphatidylserine on the membrane 20 and therefore can be targeted by this treatment.…”

Brain death effects on lung microvasculature in an experimental model of lung donor

“…Regarding lung intravital microscopic data, Ivanov and co-workers describe that the alveolus is a spherical body surrounded by a microvascular network. (7) On the other hand, Sack et al (2) showed that pulmonary microcirculation exhibits a significant number of no-reflow areas with extremely reduced red blood cell velocities after lung transplantation in pigs, situation that was probably triggered by the ischemia-reperfusion injury. The analogous observation regarding the lung microcirculation documented in the current study after BD induction indicates another cause to this phenomenon and reinforces the relevance of microvascular injury since the donor management.…”

“…(11) The microvasculature has an important role in the long-term health of transplanted organs, and the mechanisms of microvascular damage after transplantation are mainly related to the endothelial cells injury by oxidative stress and immune response associated factors. (1)(2)(3)(4)12) Oxidative stress is normally perceived in solid organ transplants and has been attributable to several factors including ischemia-reperfusion injury, post-transplant graft dysfunction, immunosuppressive drugs, as well as primary illness of the transplanted organ that has BD as its most important cause.…”

“…Lung transplantation continues to be restricted by limited long-term survival and high incidence of lung donor impairment. Several studies have shown that microvascular damage seems to be an important cause of early and long-term lung graft failure, (1,2) like other solid organs, (3,4) thus stressing the importance of preserving a functional microvasculature as a therapeutic strategy for preventing chronic fibrotic remodeling.…”

“…Besides alloimmune inflammation and ischemia-reperfusion injury, which are considered as the causes of microvascular injury in the solid organs used for transplantation, (1)(2)(3)(4) pathophysiological changes triggered by brain death (BD) also can adversely affect the microcirculatory system. In a previous study, (5) observation of rat mesenteric microcirculation in situ and in vivo by intravital microscopy showed that BD triggers a persistent mesenteric hypoperfusion, local inflammation, and organ dysfunction.…”