Induction of heme oxygenase-1 improves the survival of pancreas grafts by prevention of pancreatitis after transplantation.
Transplantation 2008;
84:1644-55. [PMID:
18165777 DOI:
10.1097/01.tp.0000290233.81395.81]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury after pancreas transplantation might result in graft pancreatitis. The role of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in pancreas transplantation and prevention of graft pancreatitis is unknown.
METHOD
We studied the impact of HO-1 induction with cobalt protoporphyrin (CoPP) in experimental pancreas transplantation with moderate (6 hr) and prolonged (20 hr) cold ischemic time (CIT). Donor animals received CoPP 5 mg/kg intraperitoneal at 48 hr or intraperitoneal saline injections in the corresponding control groups before procurement. Harvested grafts were perfused with HTK solution and stored at 4 degrees C.
RESULTS
After prolonged CIT, graft survival was 100% with CoPP pretreatment in contrast to only 37.5% without pretreatment. CoPP-pretreated grafts demonstrated an unimpaired endocrine graft function at moderate and prolonged CIT. Serum lipase activity as a sign of exocrine preservation was significantly lower. In addition, morphological architecture was well preserved. CoPP pretreatment markedly increased HO-1 gene expression in donor pancreas (130-fold increase) by means of quantitative reverse transcriptase -polymerase chain reaction. Immunohistochemical examinations showed that the increase of HO-1 on the protein level was related to HO-1-positive donor macrophages in the pancreas grafts. HO-1 overexpression was accompanied by significant decrease of proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin (IL)-2, IL-6, interferon-y, and by significant increase of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 and less expression of adhesion molecules such as e- and p-selectins.
CONCLUSIONS
HO-1 is highly inducible in the allograft rat pancreas and associated with a survival benefit and good graft function after transplantation. This study contributes to the beneficial potentials of HO-1 for the prevention of graft pancreatitis.
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