Recombinant human secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor ameliorated vessel preservation in experimentally isolated rat arteries

Abstract

Vessel allograft preservation is essential for vascular reconstruction surgery. The preservation solution is crucial in extending the preservation period while maintaining vascular endothelial function. Currently, a 0.9% normal saline solution (NSS) is widely used as a storage solution although its protective effect on endothelial preservation is limited. In this study, we determine the beneficial effect of recombinant human secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (rhSLPI), supplemented to 0.9% NSS, for isolated aortic preservation. The thoracic and abdominal aorta were isolated from Wistar rats (n = 6), and the aortic rings were subsequently cut and preserved in 0.9% NSS in the presence and absence of 1 µg/ml rhSLPI for 0, 6, 24, and 48 hours. The preservative solution was collected to determine the released lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity and pro-inflammatory cytokine levels, including tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). Furthermore, the appearance and severity of vessel degeneration were subjected to blind histopathological assessment by pathologists. The results indicated that 0.9% NSS, supplemented with rhSLPI, significantly reduced the released LDH activity, TNF-α, and IL-6 levels and could attenuate endothelial detachment, endothelial degeneration, and endothelial necrosis. This study demonstrated for the first time that adding rhSLPI to a saline preservative solution could prevent vascular injury and possibly extend the graft storage duration before clinical intervention.