Activation of autophagy during normothermic machine perfusion of discarded livers is associated with improved hepatocellular function
Anders Öhman, Siavash Raigani, John Santiago, Megan Heaney, Joan M. Boylan, N. Parry, Cailah Carroll, Sofia G. Baptista, Korkut Uygun, Philip A. Gruppuso, Jennifer A. Sanders, Heidi Yeh
Abstract
We demonstrate that ischemia-reperfusion injury occurs in all livers during NMP, though there are notable differences in gene expression between functional and nonfunctional livers. We further demonstrate that activation of the liver's repair and homeostasis mechanisms through autophagy plays a vital role in the graft's response to injury and may impact liver function. These findings indicate that liver autophagy might be a key therapeutic target for rehabilitating the function of severely injured or untransplantable livers.
Topics & Concepts
AutophagyPerfusionHomeostasisMachine perfusionIschemiaLiver injuryFunction (biology)MedicineLiver functionCell biologyBiologyCardiologyInternal medicineApoptosisLiver transplantationBiochemistryTransplantationOrgan Transplantation Techniques and OutcomesAutophagy in Disease and TherapyLiver Disease and Transplantation