Brain-liver interactions during liver ischemia reperfusion injury: a minireview

The liver is a vital organ, with a wide range of functions. This organ plays an important role in the metabolism, including the glycogen storage, decomposition of red blood cells, plasma protein synthesis, hormone production, and detoxification. The liver is innervated by sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves which are involved in the regulation of the hepatic metabolism. Tissue injury connected with ischemia and reperfusion has been implicated in several clinical settings, including myocardial infarction, brain ischemia, and organ transplantation. Consequences of the liver ischemia reperfusion injury (LIRI) induce first of all an organ failure and afterwards multiorgan system damages that may eventually lead to a death. Many models with an attempt to reduce harmful consequences of the LIRI, directing to develop a variety of prophylactic strategies, has been introduced including models of warm, cold or normothermic ischemia, ischemic pre- and post-conditionings, pharmacological interventions, etc. In spite of the improvements in the medical care and accumulation of a large amount of experimental data concerning the prevention of ischemia and reperfusion related injuries, many destructive processes explanation still remains problematic.