Breviscapine alleviates hepatic injury and inhibits PKC-mRNA and its protein expression in brain-dead BA-Ma mini pigs.
BACKGROUND
Brain-dead donors are the main sources for organ transplantation, but many studies show that brain-death affects the organ's function after transplantation. This study was undertaken to investigate liver injury after brain-death in BA-Ma mini pigs and the protective effects of breviscapine on hepatic function and on PKC-alpha mRNA and its protein expression.


METHODS
Fifteen BA-Ma mini pigs were equally divided into 3 groups at random: brain-dead (group B), breviscapine pretreated (group P), and control (group C). The brain-dead model was established by increasing intracranial pressure in a modified, slow and intermittent way. At 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 hours after the initial brain-death, the levels of serum AST, ALT, TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, and IL-6 were determined. The changes in hepatic tissues were assessed, and the expression of PKC-alpha and PKC-alpha mRNA was detected by immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR, respectively.


RESULTS
The levels of AST and ALT in groups B and P began to increase 12 hours after brain-death, while the values in group P were lower than those in group B (P<0.05). The levels of IL-1beta, IL-6, and TNF-alpha in groups B and P at 3, 6, 12 and 18 hours were lower than those in group B (P<0.05). At 6, 12 and 24 hours, the expressions of PKC-alpha mRNA and PKC-alpha protein in group P were lower than those in group B (P<0.05). The degree of injury to hepatic cells in group P was milder than that in group B.


CONCLUSIONS
Breviscapine inhibits the degree of PKC-alpha mRNA transcription and its protein translation, decreases the release of inflammatory factors, and thus alleviates hepatic injury during brain-death.
Zhang
Shui-Jun
SJ
Department of Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China. zhangshuijun@zzu.edu.cn
Song
Yan
Y
Zhai
Wen-Long
WL
Shi
Ji-Hua
JH
Feng
Liu-Shun
LS
Zhao
Yong-Fu
YF
Chen
Shi
S
D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D001926:Brain Death / Q000378:metabolism*; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000032:analysis / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis*; D013552:Swine; D013556:Swine, Miniature; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood
D005419:Flavonoids; D015850:Interleukin-6; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C061097:breviscapine; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D011493:Protein Kinase C