Adenosine A2 receptor stimulation protects the predamaged liver from cold preservation through activation of cyclic...

The shortage of organ donors has led to reconsideration for the use of non-heart-beating donors (NHBDs). However, graft injury caused by warm ischemia in livers from NHBDs strongly affects posttransplantation outcome. The aim of the present study is to investigate the role of adenosine A2 receptor with regard to hepatic viability after cold preservation of NHBD livers. Cardiac arrest was induced in Wistar rats by phrenotomy of the anesthetized nonheparinized animal. After 60 minutes, the livers were excised and flushed with 60 mL of histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate (HTK) and stored submerged in HTK at 4 degrees C for 24 hours. Reperfusion was performed in vitro after all livers were incubated at 22 degrees C in saline solution to account for the period of slow rewarming during surgical implantation in vivo. Addition of the selective A2-receptor agonist (CGS 21680; 30microg/100 mL) to the preservation solution resulted in a significant reduction to one quarter of the parenchymal enzyme release of alanine aminotransferase or lactate dehydrogenase on reperfusion and promoted a 2-fold increase in hepatic bile production. This salutory effect was accompanied by a significant increase (40%) in the activity ratio of protein kinase A (PKA) in the liver tissue and could be abrogated in large part by the PKA inhibitor, Rp-cAMPs. Stimulation of the adenosine A2 receptor during harvest and storage of the graft improves maintenance of tissue integrity in liver grafts. A major part of this effect, which may represent a promising approach for the use of NHBD grafts, seems to be mediated through activation of PKA.