Hepatocyte apoptosis induced by hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury in cirrhotic rats

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether hepatocyte apoptosis in hepatic ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injuryis mediated by Fas pathway.METHODS: Fas-mRNA expression detected by in situ hybridization assay, caspase-3 activity measuredby fluorescence spectrophotometer, and hepatocyte apoptosis detected by TUNEL assay were compared indifferent L/R conditions between cirrhotic and normal rats. The relationship was analyzed betweenhepatocyte apoptosis, Fas-mRNA expression, and caspase-3 activity.RESULTS: In cirrhotic rats, Fas-mRNA expression and caspase-3 activity were significantly increasedwhen the ischemic time prolonged, and subsequently, hepatocyte apoptosis was increased (P<0.O1).Under the same I/R condition, the Fas-mRNA expression, caspase-3 activity and hepatocyte apoptosis incirrhotic liver were significantly higher than those in normal liver (P<0.O1).CONCLUSIONS: Hepatocyte apoptosis in hepatic I/R injury might be mediated by Fas pathway. Thepossible underlying mechanism that cirrhotic liver is more sensitive to ischemic injury than normal liver isalteration of Fas expression level.