Cellular recovery after prolonged warm ischaemia of the whole body

After cessation of blood flow or similar ischaemic exposures, deleterious molecular cascades commence in mammalian cells, eventually leading to their death(1,2). Yet with targeted interventions, these processes can be mitigated or reversed, even minutes or hours post mortem, as also reported in the isolated porcine brain using BrainEx technology(3). To date, translating single-organ interventions to intact, whole-body applications remains hampered by circulatory and multisystem physiological challenges. Here we describe OrganEx, an adaptation ofthe BrainEx extracorporeal pulsatile-perfusion system and cytoprotective perfusate for porcine whole-body settings. After 1 h of warm ischaemia, OrganEx application preserved tissue integrity, decreased cell death and restored selected molecular and cellular processes across multiple vital organs. Commensurately, single-nucleustranscriptomic analysis revealed organ- and cell-type-specific gene expression patternsthat are reflective of specific molecular and cellular repair processes. Our analysis comprises a comprehensive resource of cell-type-specific changes during defined ischaemic intervals and perfusion interventions spanning multiple organs, and it reveals an underappreciated potential for cellular recovery after prolonged whole-body warm ischaemia in a large mammal.

Automated summary

Researchers have developed a technology called OrganEx that can maintain tissue integrity, reduce cell death, and restore molecular and cellular processes in multiple vital organs in a pig's whole body. Single-nucleus transcriptomic analysis revealed gene expression patterns specific to organ and cell type, reflecting specific molecular and cellular repair processes. This study reveals the underappreciated potential for cellular recovery after prolonged whole-body warm ischemia in large mammals.