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Role of iron in postischemic microvascular injury

J K Smith1, D L Carden, M B Grisham

  • 1Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine, Louisiana State University Medical Center, Shreveport 71130.

Insights

Deferoxamine and apotransferrin reduced skeletal muscle vascular permeability during reperfusion injury, suggesting iron-catalyzed oxidant production contributes to microvascular damage. Iron-loaded deferoxamine offered no protection.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Physiology
  • Pathology

Background:

  • Ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury to skeletal muscle involves oxidant production.
  • Iron-catalyzed formation of hydroxyl radicals is a proposed mechanism during reperfusion.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of iron-catalyzed oxidant production in skeletal muscle I/R injury.
  • To assess the protective effects of iron chelators against I/R-induced vascular permeability.

Main Methods:

  • Isolated, pump-perfused rat hindquarters subjected to 2 hours of ischemia and 30 minutes of reperfusion.
  • Measurement of solvent drag reflection coefficients (sigma) to assess vascular permeability.
  • Administration of deferoxamine, apotransferrin, or iron-loaded deferoxamine as pretreatment.

Main Results:

  • I/R significantly increased vascular permeability (sigma decreased from 0.82 to 0.68).
  • Deferoxamine and apotransferrin pretreatment attenuated the permeability increase (sigma = 0.83 and 0.86, respectively).
  • Iron-loaded deferoxamine did not provide protection (sigma = 0.71).

Conclusions:

  • Iron-catalyzed oxidant production plays a significant role in skeletal muscle microvascular injury following I/R.
  • Iron chelation therapy may be beneficial in mitigating I/R injury.
  • Further investigation into the sources of oxidants, such as xanthine oxidase, is warranted.

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