title: Evaluation of cysteine effect on redox potential of porcine liver preserved by simple hypothermia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cysteine (cys), a thiol amino-acid, is involved in de novo glutathione (GSH) synthesis in the extra- and intracellular space. It is also probably involved in the anaerobic glycolysis process. Both these facts may affect the metabolic condition of the liver preserved by simple hypothermia for transplantation. The aim of the study was to verify whether cysteine addition to histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate (HTK) organ preservation solution showed a positive effect on liver redox potential after 12-hour preservation in simple hypothermia.
  
  
  METHODS
  After collecting livers of Great White breed pigs that underwent 30 min of warm ischemia, before 30-min perfusion and cooling to 4°C with modified HTK solution containing cysteine prior to 12 h of preservation. Activity of glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) was determined in liver homogenates after perfusion and after the preservation period. The results were compared with pure HTK, Ringer's and reference University of Wisconsin (UW) solutions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  30 min of perfusion and 12 h of cold preservation (CIT) in the Ringer's solution markedly increased GPx, SOD, and GR activities in liver homogenates compared with the activity using other fluids. After 12-h CIT the activities of GR, GPx and SOD were significantly higher in cys-modified HTK solution than the control HTK solution. They were comparable to the values recorded for the UW group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Addition of cys to the HTK solution positively influenced the total pool of free radical scavengers in a liver undergoing 12-hour ischemia in the simple hypothermia, which was reflected in the elevated redox enzyme activity possibly due to cys participation in GSH synthesis.
authors: Department of General, Vascular and Transplant Surgery, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland. gregorydr@wp.pl
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Budziński
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Suszka-Świtek
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Caban
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Oczkowicz
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Heitzman
authors: W
authors: W
authors: Wystrychowski
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Dolińska
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Ryszka
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Cierpka
mesh_terms: D000241:Adenosine; D000493:Allopurinol; D000818:Animals; D050377:Cold Ischemia; D003545:Cysteine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000378:metabolism; D005978:Glutathione; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D005980:Glutathione Reductase / Q000378:metabolism; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007328:Insulin; D007552:Isotonic Solutions; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D009926:Organ Preservation / Q000379:methods*; D019188:Organ Preservation Solutions; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010477:Perfusion; D011887:Raffinose; D000077331:Ringer's Solution; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D034421:Sus scrofa
chemical_list: D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D007328:Insulin; D007552:Isotonic Solutions; D019188:Organ Preservation Solutions; C055206:University of Wisconsin-lactobionate solution; D000493:Allopurinol; D000077331:Ringer's Solution; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D005980:Glutathione Reductase; D005978:Glutathione; D000241:Adenosine; D003545:Cysteine; D011887:Raffinose