title: Influence of levosimendan postconditioning on apoptosis of rat lung cells in a model of ischemia-reperfusion injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To ascertain if levosimendan postconditioning can alleviate lung ischemia-reperfusion injury (LIRI) in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred rats were divided into five groups: Sham (sham), ischemia-reperfusion group (I/R group), ischemic postconditioning (IPO group), levosimendan postconditioning (Levo group) and combination postconditioning group of levosimendan and 5-Hydroxydecanoic acid (Levo+5-HD group). The apoptotic index (AI) of lung tissue cells was determined using the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay. Expression of active cysteine aspartate specific protease-3 ( active caspase-3), Bcl-2 and Bax in lung tissue was determined by immunohistochemical staining. The morphopathology of lung tissue was observed using light and electron microscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  AI values and expression of active caspase-3, Bcl-2 and Bax of lung tissue in I/R and Levo+5-HD groups were significantly higher than those in the sham group ( P<0.05). AI values and expression of active caspase-3 and Bax were significantly lower, whereas that of Bcl-2 was higher significantly in the Levo group, compared with I/R and Levo+5-HD groups (P<0.05). Significant differences were not observed in comparisons between I/R and Levo+5-HD groups as well as IPO and Levo groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LIRI can be alleviated by levosimendan, which simulates an IPO protective function. A postulated lung-protective mechanism of action could involve opening of mitochondrial adenosine triphosphate-sensitive potassium channels, relieving Ca2+ overload, upregulation of expression of Bcl-2, and downregulation of expression of active caspase-3 and Bax.
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Surgery Department, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China.
authors.forename: Chengxin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Surgery Department, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China.
authors.forename: Zhixiang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Oncology Department, The He Fei Hospital affiliated with An Hui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China.
authors.forename: Haiyuan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Cerebral Surgery, The Chest Hospital of Anhui province, Hefei, Anhui, China.
authors.forename: Yinglu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Surgery Department, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China.
authors.forename: Shenglin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ge
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D003652:Decanoic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006835:Hydrazones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006880:Hydroxy Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D011724:Pyridazines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D000077464:Simendan; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C494828:Bax protein, rat; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D003652:Decanoic Acids; D006835:Hydrazones; D006880:Hydroxy Acids; D011724:Pyridazines; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D000077464:Simendan; C052853:5-hydroxydecanoic acid; C505410:Casp3 protein, rat; D053148:Caspase 3