title: Leukocyte transmigration across endothelial and extracellular matrix protein barriers in liver ischemia/reperfusion injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Hepatic ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI) linked to leukocyte recruitment and subsequent release of cytokines and free radicals remains a significant complication in organ transplantation. The aim of this review is to bring attention to advances made in our understanding of the mechanisms of leukocyte recruitment to sites of inflammatory stimulation in liver IRI.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Leukocyte transmigration across endothelial and extracellular matrix barriers is dependent on adhesive events, as well as on focal matrix degradation mechanisms. Whereas adhesion molecules are critical for the successful promotion of leukocyte transmigration by providing leukocyte attachment to the vascular endothelium, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are important for facilitating leukocyte movement across vascular barriers. Among different MMPs, MMP-9, an inducible gelatinase expressed by leukocytes during hepatic IRI, is emerging as an important mediator of leukocyte traffic to inflamed liver.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is generally accepted that the understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in leukocyte recruitment will lead to the development of novel targeted therapeutic approaches for hepatic IRI and liver transplantation. Here, we review mechanisms of leukocyte traffic in liver IRI and the role of some of the proteins that are thought to be important for this process.
authors.affiliation: The Dumont-UCLA Transplant Center, Division of Liver and Pancreas Transplantation, Department of Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California 90095-7054, USA. acoito@mednet.ucla.edu
authors.forename: Ana J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Coito
mesh_terms: D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008099:Liver / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000378:metabolism; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9