title: Protective effects of salubrinal on liver injury in rat models of brain death.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous studies have indicated that endoplasmic reticulum stress participates in and mediates liver injury and apoptosis in brain-dead (BD) rats. In this study, we observed the effect of salubrinal (Sal, Sigma, USA) on liver cells in BD rats and explored its relevant mechanisms.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty Sprague-Dawley rats were equally randomized into three groups: BD group, Sal group, and DMSO group. The BD models were established by increasing intracranial pressure in a modified, slow, and intermittent way. In the drug groups, Sal was administered 1 h before the induction of BD. After modeling was completed, the blood and liver samples were harvested. CHOP and Caspase-12 mRNA expression was detected using quantitative polymerase chain reaction. PKR-like ER kinase (PERK), P-eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2α (eIF2α), eIF2α, CHOP and caspase-12 expression was detected using western blotting (WB). CHOP and caspase-12 distribution and expression in liver tissues were determined using immunohistochemistry (IHC). Alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase level were detected using an automatic biochemical analyzer. Hepatic cell apoptosis was detected using TUNEL. The results were analyzed using Quantity-one v4.62 software (Bio-Rad, USA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  CHOP and caspase-12 expression and PERK, eIF2α, and P-eIF2α protein expression showed no significant difference between BD group and DMSO group. Compared with BD group, Sal group had a significantly higher P-eIF2C level and a lower P-PERK level 2 h and 6 h after BD (P < 0.05). However, eIF2α expression showed no significant difference (P > 0.05). After the Sal treatment, CHOP and caspase-12 mRNA expression significantly decreased 4 h after BD (P < 0.05). WB and IHC indicated that CHOP and caspase-12 expression also significantly decreased after Sal treatment. Sal was associated with improved liver function and decreased hepatic cell apoptosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sal can significantly reduce apoptosis in hepatic cells of BD rats. This protective effect may be achieved via the PERK-eIF2α signaling pathway.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University; Henan Key Laboratory of Digestive Organ Transplantation, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China.
authors.forename: Shui-Jun
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Sheng-Li
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Wen-Zhi
authors.initials: WZ
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Hong-Bo
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Fang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001926:Brain Death / Q000378:metabolism*; D053454:Caspase 12 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002934:Cinnamates; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D059865:Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D015852:Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000293:injuries*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013890:Thiourea / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D051742:Transcription Factor CHOP / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002934:Cinnamates; D015852:Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-2; C496827:salubrinal; D051742:Transcription Factor CHOP; D053454:Caspase 12; D013890:Thiourea