Neutrophil-mediated liver injury during hepatic ischemia-reperfusion in rats

Neutrophil plays an important role in hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury. We investigated neutrophil infiltration in liver tissue, Kupffer cells' role in neutrophil accumulation, and apoptosis and regeneration of hepatocytes in liver ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Vascular microclamps were placed across the pedicles of the median and left lateral lobes for 90 minutes after 30% hepatectomy with the resection of caudate, right lateral and quadrate lobes and papillary process. Gadolinium chloride (GdCl(3)) was used to destroy Kupffer cells. Neutrophil activity was inhibited with Urge-8, a monoclonal antibody against neutrophil produced in our laboratory. GdCl(3) (10 mg/kg) and Urge-8 (50 mg/kg) were given intravenously in respective groups. Ischemia control, GdCl(3) and Urge-8 groups were compared.

Following hepatic reperfusion, serum interleukin-8 (IL-8) levels and hepatic neutrophil counts peaked at 3 hours, and peak concentrations of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) occurred at 6 hours. Animals of the control group showed increases in neutrophil infiltration in liver tissue, liver enzyme levels, and apoptosis index of hepatocytes and decreases in overall survival rate and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression of hepatocytes. The survival rates and PCNA proportion of hepatocytes were higher and the levels of hepatic neutrophil infiltration, liver enzymes, and hepatocyte apoptosis after reperfusion were lower in the GdCl(3) and Urge-8 groups than those in the ischemia control group.

Blockades of Kupffer cells' activity and neutrophil infiltration by GdCl(3) and Urge-8 eliminate neutrophil-mediated hepatic injury and enhance subsequent hepatic regeneration during liver ischemia-reperfusion.