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Brain death-induced expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 on rat hepatocytes
Hirochika Toyama1, Moriatsu Takada, Yasuyuki Suzuki
1Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kobe University, 7-5-2, Kusunoki-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0017, Japan.
Background/Aims:
Brain death is a significant risk factor for donor organs used for transplantation. Adhesion molecules, ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 are induced in the liver of brain-dead patients, which have important roles in allograft rejection. However, the role of these molecules on hepatocytes has not been investigated. To investigate morphological changes and expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 on hepatocytes, we employed a standardized rat model of brain death.
Methodology:
Isolated hepatocytes were examined by histology and immunohistology.
Results:
The hepatocytes of brain-dead rats were less stained with eosin indicating the decreased permeability and impaired integrity of the cell membranes. Immunohistologically, expression of ICAM-1 was weak on hepatocytes of normal rats, and clearly enhanced and after brain death. Similarly, expression of VCAM-1 was not identified in the normal, but strongly induced after brain death.
Conclusions:
These findings indicate the increased immunogenicity of donor hepatocytes after brain death. Immunomodulation before engraftment of cellular grafts to diminish or decrease the immunogenicity may result in better outcome of hepatocytes from brain-dead donor.
