Rat liver ischemia-reperfusion-induced apoptosis and necrosis are decreased by FK506 pretreatment

The aim of this study was to demonstrate that tacrolimus (FK506) has a hepatoprotective effect by reducing ischemia-reperfusion-induced apoptosis and necrosis, both of which lead to post-surgical liver dysfunction. An ischemia-reperfusion model and primary cultured rat hepatocytes subjected to hypoxic and reoxygenation phases, mimicking the surgical process, were used. c-Jun N-terminal kinase 1/stress-activated protein kinase 1 (JNK(1)/SAPK(1)) activation leads to caspase 3 activation, a trigger of apoptosis. The activation status of JNK(1)/SAPK(1) was evaluated by immunoprecipitation or Western-blotting experiments. Apoptosis was assessed by measuring caspase activation and by TUNEL (terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate-biotin nick-end labeling) reaction. Necrosis was assessed histologically. Tacrolimus improved the survival rate of rats subjected to ischemia-reperfusion. After FK506 pretreatment, the liver necrosis rate was reduced, and ischemia-reperfusion-induced JNK(1)/SAPK(1) activation and apoptosis were significantly decreased. In hypoxia-reoxygenation-subjected hepatocytes, tacrolimus reduced JNK(1)/SAPK(1) and caspase 3 activation. In the liver, tacrolimus prevented ischemia-reperfusion-induced apoptosis and necrosis. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.