Tetrandrine ameliorated reperfusion injury of small bowel transplantation☆
Received 8 March 2009; received in revised form 29 May 2009; accepted 1 June 2009.
Abstract
Purpose
In small bowel transplantation, the bowel graft is susceptible to reperfusion injury. This study investigated the effects of tetrandrine, a bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid, on the development of intestinal reperfusion injury in small bowel transplantation in pigs.
Materials and Methods
Pigs underwent small bowel transplantation and were treated with tetrandrine or a vehicle. Blood and small bowel specimens were harvested at 1, 3, and 24 hours after reperfusion. Histopathologic analysis of the small bowel was assessed for tissue damage. Serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and IL-6 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction analysis was performed to analyze the expression of proinflammatory cytokines, and immunohistochemical analysis was used to study the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in the small bowel. Myeloperoxidase staining detected neutrophil infiltration in the small bowel and the number of myeloperoxidase positively stained cells was counted.
Results
Pigs receiving small bowel transplantation had elevated serum proinflammatory cytokine levels. The transplanted small bowel showed mucosal damage, increased expression of proinflammatory cytokines and ICAM-1, and prominent neutrophil infiltration. Tetrandrine administration reduced mucosal damage, serum and tissue proinflammatory cytokine levels, ICAM-1 expression, and neutrophil accumulation in the transplanted small bowel.
Conclusions
Tetrandrine reduced the reperfusion injury in porcine intestinal transplantation during the first 24 hours after the procedure.
aDepartment of Surgery, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, Pan-Chiao, Taipei 220, Taiwan
bDepartment of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Yuan Ze University, Chung-Li, Taoyuan 320, Taiwan
cDepartment of Anesthesiology, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, Pan-Chiao, Taipei 220, Taiwan
dDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Yuan Ze University, Chung-Li, Taoyuan 320, Taiwan
eCenter of Cardiovascular, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, Pan-Chiao, Taipei 220, Taiwan
fDepartment of Pediatrics, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, Pan-Chiao, Taipei 220, Taiwan
gDepartment of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei 100, Taiwan
Corresponding author. Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei 100, Taiwan. Tel.: +886 2 23123456x65110; fax: +886 2 89665567.
☆ This study was supported by research grants (FEMH-94-C-015 from Far Eastern Memorial Hospital and NSC95-2314-B-418-005 from the National Science Council, Taiwan, ROC) awarded to Dr Yun Chen.