New preservation strategies for preventing liver grafts against cold ischemia reperfusion injury.
BACKGROUND
In spite of improvements in University of Wisconsin (UW) preservation solution, the injury from grafts during cold storage is an unresolved problem in liver transplantation. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the beneficial effect on ischemia-reperfusion injury associated with liver transplantation of the inversion of K(+) and Na(+) concentrations and the replacement of hydroxyethyl starch (HES) by polyethylene glycol (PEG) in UW preservation solution.


METHODS
Using an orthotopic liver transplantation model, the effects on rat liver preservation of a modified preservation solution (UW-PEG) were evaluated, based on the inversion of K(+) and Na(+) concentration and the replacement of HES by PEG 35 kDa (0.03 mmol/L) in UW preservation solution.


RESULTS
The use of UW-PEG preservation solution ameliorated the biochemical and histological parameters of hepatic damage. Thus, at 24 h after transplantation, transaminase levels were reduced significantly when livers were preserved during 8 h in UW-PEG preservation solution compared with the original UW solution. In addition, histological findings revealed fewer and smaller areas of hepatocyte necrosis. The benefits of UW-PEG solution cannot be explained by modifications in oxidative stress or neutrophil accumulation associated with liver transplantation. However, the results of hepatic and portal blood flow indicated that the benefits of this modified preservation solution, UW-PEG were associated with improvements in the microcirculatory disorders after reperfusion.


CONCLUSIONS
The UW-PEG solution, while retaining all the advantages of UW solution, improved hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury associated with liver transplantation.
Franco-Gou
Rosa
R
Department of Experimental Pathology, Institute of Biomedical Research of Barcelona, CSIC, Institute of Biomedical Research August Pí i Sunyer, Barcelona, Spain.
Mosbah
Ismail Ben
IB
Serafin
Anna
A
Abdennebi
Hassen Ben
HB
Roselló-Catafau
Joan
J
Peralta
Carmen
C
D000818:Animals; D050377:Cold Ischemia / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D009926:Organ Preservation / Q000379:methods*; D019188:Organ Preservation Solutions; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000517:prevention & control*
D019188:Organ Preservation Solutions