Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2002
Identifier
DOI: 10.1053/jlts.2002.30344
Abstract
Glycohydrolases are a group of enzymes contained predominantly within lysosomes, which are released during Kupffer cell activation or death. One of these, beta-galactosidase, has been proposed as a marker of ischemia-reperfusion injury in the liver because Kupffer cell activation represents a primary event in the injurious reperfusion cascade. In this study, we compared B-galactosidase with more traditional indicators of liver injury and function in a porcine model of liver preservation. Porcine livers were allocated into two groups: group C (n = 5), preserved in University of Wisconsin solution by standard cold storage for 24 hours, and group W (n = 5), perfused with oxygenated autologous blood on an extracorporeal circuit for 24 hours. Both groups were subsequently tested on the circuit during a 24-hour reperfusion phase. The perfusate was sampled for levels of beta-galactosidase, as well as traditional markers of liver injury and function. A sharp increase in beta-galactosidase levels was seen on reperfusion of cold preserved livers to a level of 1,900 IU/mL. This contrasted dramatically with normothermically preserved livers, in which the level never exceeded 208 IU/mL (P =.002). beta-Galactosidase levels showed much earlier and greater increases compared with transaminase levels in livers injured by ischemia. A rapid elevation in beta-galactosidase levels corresponded well with poor liver function and more liver injury. Measurement of beta-galactosidase is a simple test that quantifies ischemia-reperfusion injury of preserved livers. It is more sensitive than transaminases, with faster and larger increases in levels after ischemic injury. It can be useful in assessing the viability of a liver during machine preservation.
Journal Title
Liver transplantation : official publication of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases and the International Liver Transplantation Society
Volume
8
Issue
1
First Page
21
Last Page
26
MeSH Keywords
Animals; Extracorporeal Circulation; Liver; Liver Transplantation; Models, Animal; Organ Preservation; Reperfusion Injury; Swine; beta-Galactosidase
Keywords
transplantation
Recommended Citation
St Peter, S. D., Imber, C. J., Lopez De Cenarruzabeitia, I., McGuire, J., James, T., Taylor, R., Friend, P. J. Beta-galactosidase as a marker of ischemic injury and a mechanism for viability assessment in porcine liver transplantation. Liver transplantation : official publication of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases and the International Liver Transplantation Society 8, 21-26 (2002).
