Expression of genes involved in rat liver angiogenesis after ischaemia and reperfusion: effects of ischaemic pre- and post-conditioning.
BACKGROUND
During surgery, ischaemic pre- (IPC) and post-conditioning (IPO) protects the liver against ischaemia/reperfusion injuries (I/R-injuries). The impact of ischaemic conditioning on liver regeneration has been less well studied. Angiogenesis is an important part of liver regeneration after hepatectomy. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of ischaemia/reperfusion and ischaemic conditioning on the expression of genes with angiogenic potential in a model of rat liver ischaemia.


METHODS
A model of total liver ischaemia (30 min) and reperfusion (30 min) was employed using Wistar rats. Rats were randomized into five groups: (C) control (IRI) ischaemic, IPC, IPO and IPC + IPO. Liver enzymes were sampled at the end of reperfusion. Liver biopsies were analysed using cDNA microarrays.


RESULTS
Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) increased significantly in all the ischaemic groups compared with controls (P= 0.000). Searching databases 99 genes involved in rat liver angiogenesis were identified. Compared with group (C) the number of genes significantly up-regulated was as follows: IRI (n= 5), IPC (n= 24), IPO (n= 33) and IPC + IPO (n= 18). No genes were down-regulated in the four groups compared with controls.


CONCLUSIONS
Ischaemic conditioning, as demonstrated in the present study, seems to be potent activators of angiogenic genes. This might be favourable to the regenerating liver.
Knudsen
Anders R
AR
Department of Surgical Gastroenterology L, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus C, Denmark. auknudsen@gmail.com
Kannerup
Anne-Sofie
AS
Dich
Rune
R
Kruhøffer
Mogens
M
Funch-Jensen
Peter
P
Grønbaek
Henning
H
Mortensen
Frank V
FV
D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001706:Biopsy; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D030541:Databases, Genetic; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling / Q000379:methods; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D057775:Ischemic Postconditioning; D019194:Ischemic Preconditioning; D008099:Liver / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000235:genetics*; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013997:Time Factors
D000410:Alanine Transaminase