Effects of fusion protein of HIV-1 transactiviting protein and heme oxygenase-1 on hepatic cell apoptosis of rat donors in cold storage stage

Objective To study the effects of TAT-HO-1 fusion protein,HIV-1 transactiviting protein (TAT) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1),on hepatic cell apoptosis of rat donors in cold storage stage.Methods Forty-eight male SD rats were randomly divided into two groups.Rat livers were flushed and preserved with 4℃ HTK solution containing(group P) or uncontaining(group C) 50 mg/L of TAT-HO-1.The preserved solution and hepatic tissue were collected at 0,6,12,18 h of cold storage stage.TAT-HO-1 transducing into liver,alanine aminotransferase(ALT) level in preserved solution,hyaluronic acid(HA) level and the expression of caspase-3 in hepatic tissue,and the apoptotic index (AI) of hepatocytes and sinusoidal endothelial cells (SECs) were measured or detected.Results ALT level in preserved solution,HA level and the expression of caspase-3 in hepatic tissue,and the AI of hepatocytes and SECs increased time-dependently in cold storage stage in both groups (P＜0.05),with lower increasing extent in group P than that in group C (P＜0.05) at 6h,12h and 18h of cold storage stage.A stronger accumulation of HO-1 staining was also detected at the same time-points in group P than that in group C(P＜0.05).Conclusion TAT-HO-1 may transduce efficiently into rat livers,exerting protective effects on both hepatocytes and SECs during cold storage stage.Protein transduction technology may be a novel therapeutic means to reduce donor liver injury in preservation period for transplantion. Key words: Liver ;  Cold storage ;  Fusion protein ;  HIV-1 transactiviting protein ;  heine oxygenase-1 ;