Augmentation of heme oxygenase-1 expression in the graft immediately after implantation in adult living-donor liver transplantation.
Heme oxygenase (HO)-1 is a cytoprotective protein and has recently been identified as a graft survival gene. However, there are little data currently available regarding the expression of HO-1 in human living-related liver transplantation. This is the first report that HO-1 expression is increased in small-for-size liver allografts. We performed biopsies of the graft liver and donor liver left in six patients at four time points during the procedure and studied HO-1 expression by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry. HO-1 mRNA was expressed at a low level in steady-state liver tissue but was strongly expressed after perfusion of the graft liver. HO-1 expression increased in nonparenchymal cells in the human graft liver. The number of HO-1 positive cells increased threefold by the end of liver transplantation. This study suggests that ischemia-reperfusion injury and excessive shear stress secondary to portal hypertension might augment HO-1 expression in the graft liver.
Kobayashi
Takashi
T
Division of Digestive and General Surgery, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata 951-8510, Japan.
Sato
Yoshinobu
Y
Yamamoto
Satoshi
S
Takeishi
Toshiyuki
T
Hirano
Ken-ichiro
K
Watanabe
Takaoki
T
Takano
Kabuto
K
Naito
Makoto
M
Hatakeyama
Katsuyoshi
K
D005260:Female; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D006419:Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing) / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D019520:Living Donors; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors
D008565:Membrane Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C496541:HMOX1 protein, human; D006419:Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing); D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1