title: A caspase inhibitor, IDN-6556, ameliorates early hepatic injury in an ex vivo rat model of warm and cold ischemia.
abstract: This study examined the efficacy of the caspase inhibitor, IDN-6556, in a rat model of liver ischemia-reperfusion injury. Livers from male Sprague-Dawley rats were reperfused for 120 minutes after 24 hours of 4 degrees C cold storage in University of Wisconsin solution. Portal blood flow measurements estimated sinusoidal resistance, and bile production, alanine aminotransferase activities, and Suzuki scores were evaluated as parameters of hepatocyte/liver injury. Treated livers were exposed to 25 or 50 microM of IDN-6556 in University of Wisconsin storage solution and/or the perfusate. All treatment regimens with IDN-6556 significantly improved portal blood flow measured at 120 minutes, and significant improvements were seen as early as 30 minutes when inhibitor was also present in the perfusate (P < 0.01). All treatment groups with IDN-6556 significantly increased bile production by 3-4-fold compared with controls (P < 0.01), and reductions in alanine aminotransferase activities were seen within 90 minutes of reperfusion (P < 0.05). These data were confirmed by improved Suzuki scores (less sinusoidal congestion, necrosis, and vacuolization) in all treated groups. Livers from the IDN-6556-treated groups had markedly reduced caspase activities and TUNEL (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling)-positive cells, suggesting reductions in apoptosis. IDN-6556 present in cold storage media ameliorated liver injury due to cold ischemia and reperfusion injury and may be a rational therapeutic approach to reduce the risk of liver ischemia in the clinical setting.
authors.affiliation: Idun Pharmaceuticals, San Diego, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Niel C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Hoglen
authors.forename: Dean M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Anselmo
authors.forename: Masamichi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Katori
authors.forename: Marian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kaldas
authors.forename: Xiu-Da
authors.initials: XD
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Karen L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Valentino
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lassman
authors.forename: Ronald W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Busuttil
authors.forename: Jerzy W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Kupiec-Weglinski
authors.forename: Douglas G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Farmer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D061945:Caspase Inhibitors; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D023421:Models, Animal; D009926:Organ Preservation / Q000379:methods; D019188:Organ Preservation Solutions / Q000494:pharmacology; D010421:Pentanoic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013696:Temperature; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: C487112:3-(2-(2-tert-butylphenylaminooxalyl)aminopropionylamino)-4-oxo-5-(2,3,5,6-tetrafluorophenoxy)pentanoic acid; D061945:Caspase Inhibitors; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D019188:Organ Preservation Solutions; D010421:Pentanoic Acids