Protective Effect of Adeno-Mediated Human Bcl-xL Gene Transfer to the Mouse Liver in a Partial Ischemia/Reperfusion Model

Background The protective effect of heat preconditioning has been ascribed to the induction of heat shock proteins (HSP) in the liver. We detected an increase in Bcl-xL expression prior to HSP 70 expression in the rat liver after heat preconditioning. The net effect of overexpression of human Bcl-xL with a recombinant adenovector was estimated in a partial ischemia/reperfusion model of the mouse liver. Materials and Methods The time courses of the expression of HSP, Bcl-xL, Bcl-2, Bax, and Bag-1 in the SD rat liver after heat preconditioning were studied by Western blotting. The localizations of Bcl-xL, Bcl-2, and Bax at 6 h after preconditioning were examined by immunostaining. The expression of Bcl-xL in the C57/BL mouse liver after intravenous injection of the recombinant adenovector was assessed by Western blotting and immunostaining. The protective effect of overexpression of Bcl-xL was estimated in a 60-min partial ischemia/reperfusion model of the mouse liver. Results The expression of Bcl-xL peaked 12 h after heat preconditioning. The overexpression of Bcl-xL decreased enzyme release, histological cell injury, and the number of TUNEL-positive cells. Conclusion Transfer of the human Bcl-xL gene to the liver had a protective effect against ischemia/reperfusion injury in a mouse model.