Stress response of systemic organs to ischemia-reperfusion of rat hind limb – study of induction of 72-kD stress protein (HSP72)

Abstract

Many investigators have examined the influence of ischemia-reperfusion of the lower leg on the systemic organs using pathological, physiological, and biochemical studies. However, there has been no study on HSP72 induction in systemic organs. The left hind limb of a rat was dissected, retaining the bone and femoral vessels. The vessels were clamped to produce ischemia. After 6 h, the clamps were removed, and six systemic organs (hypophysis, heart, lung, kidney, adrenal gland, liver) were removed at various times up to 72 h after reperfusion. The HSP72 induction was detected by Western blot analysis using anti-HSP72 monoclonal antibody. The density of the HSP72 bands was quantified using computer software. The survival study showed that the mortality rate was 0% within 24 h, 30% within 48 h, and 70% within 72 h in the ischemia-reperfusion group, while there was no mortality in the sham-operated group within 72 h. Histological findings showed that in the heart, hypophysis, liver, and adrenal gland, there were no significant histopathological changes. In the lung, parenchymal infiltration of leukocytes and erythrocytes was observed at 24, 48, and 72 h. At 72 h, the alveolar structure was markedly destroyed. In the kidney at 48 and 72 h, renal congestion was seen and vacuole regeneration was also observed in a part of the tubular cells. The levels of HSP72 increased gradually after reperfusion in the kidney, and at 24, 48, and 72 h after reperfusion, the levels were significantly higher than those in the shamoperated rats. In the remaining five organs, the levels of HSP72 indicated no significant elevation at the times studied as compared with sham-operated rats. These results demonstrated that, of the six organs studied (hypophysis, heart, lung, kidney, adrenal gland, and liver), only kidney HSP72 increased during reperfusion stage after 6-h ischemia of the lower leg.

Postconditioning in major vascular surgery: prevention of renal failure

“…Heat shock proteins have a significant role in the protection against IR injury [ 31 ]. Levels of HSP72 have been demonstrated to be elevated in remote organs (including the kidney) after limb IR injury [ 32 ]. Our result also showed elevation of HSP72 in the kidney samples, however there was no significant difference between the groups.…”