title: Caspase-3 Expression and ALT, AST, and GGT Activity After 24 Hours of Porcine Liver Cold Storage, Depending on the Type of Transgenesis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Because of an insufficient number of human organs for transplantation, xenotransplantation may become an effective alternative. We aimed to analyze if the type of transgenesis has an influence on the hepatic caspase-3 expression, the enzyme that executes apoptosis as well as ALT, AST, and GGT activity after 24 hours of cold storage.
  
  
  METHODS
  The experiment was carried out on the 24 livers of Polish White Landrace pigs carrying human α1,2-fucosyltransferase and/or α-galactosidase (GAL) genes and livers without this genetic modification (control). Livers were perfused, stored for 24 hours in solution, and subsequently re-flushed. Hepatic concentration of the caspase-3 protein and its mRNA expression were measured just after the animal was killed as well as after 30 minutes of perfusion and after 24 hours of cold storage followed by 30 minutes of reperfusion. Caspase-3 mRNA level was detected with the RT-PCR method. Protein concentration (capsase-3 active and inactive) was assessed with the Western blotting technique. Kinetic methods were applied for the analysis of the ALT, AST, and GGT activity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The highest increase of the ALT activity after cold storage was observed in the group with GAL transgenesis, whereas the GGT activity was highest in the unmodified livers. There was no difference in the caspase-3 expression and AST activity after cold storage as compared with the respective initial results (P = .57 and P = .97, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It appears that transgenesis does not aggravate ischemic injury of the liver.
authors: Department of General, Vascular, and Transplant Surgery, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland.
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Roman
authors: Department of General, Vascular, and Transplant Surgery, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland. Electronic address: gregorydr@wp.pl.
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Budziński
authors: Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Suszka-Świtek
authors: Department of General, Vascular, and Transplant Surgery, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Caban
authors: Department of General, Vascular, and Transplant Surgery, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland.
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Oczkowicz
authors: Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland.
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Czech
authors: "Biochefa" Pharmaceutical Research Production Plant, Sosnowiec, Poland.
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Ryszka
authors: Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland.
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Wiaderkiewicz
authors: The National Research Institute of Animal Production in Kraków-Balice, Poland.
authors: Z
authors: Z
authors: Smorąg
authors: Department of General, Vascular, and Transplant Surgery, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland.
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Cierpka
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000379:methods*; D005647:Fucosyltransferases / Q000235:genetics*; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology*; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D009926:Organ Preservation / Q000379:methods*; D034421:Sus scrofa; D013552:Swine; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous / Q000379:methods; D000519:alpha-Galactosidase / Q000235:genetics*; D000097631:Galactoside 2-alpha-L-fucosyltransferase
chemical_list: D053148:Caspase 3; D005647:Fucosyltransferases; D000519:alpha-Galactosidase; D000097631:Galactoside 2-alpha-L-fucosyltransferase