09 Effects of different preconditioning therapies on arrhythmias and aortic blood flow in an in vivo rat model of ischaemia/reperfusion injury

Background: Ischaemia-reperfusion injury (IRI), a major complication occurring during organ transplantation, involves an initial ischemia insult, due to loss of blood supply, followed by an inflammation-mediated reperfusion injury. A variety of molecular targets and pathways involved in liver IRI have been identified. Gene silencing through RNA interference (RNAi) by means of small interference RNA (siRNA) targeting mediators of IRI is a promising therapeutic approach. Objective: This study aims at reviewing the use of siRNAs as therapeutic agents to prevent IRI during liver transplantation. Method: We review the crucial choice of siRNA targets and the advantages and problems of the use of siRNAs. Results: We propose possible targets for siRNA therapy during liver IRI. Moreover, we discuss how drug delivery systems, namely liposomes, may improve siRNA therapy by increasing siRNA stability in vivo and avoiding siRNA off-target effects. Conclusion: siRNA therapeutic potential to preclude liver IRI can be improved by a better knowledge of what molecules to target and by using more efficient delivery strategies.

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S-nitroso-albumin carries a thiol-labile pool of nitric oxide, which causes venodilation in the rat

AJP Heart and Circulatory Physiology ◽

10.1152/ajpheart.01014.2004 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 289 (2) ◽

pp. H916-H923 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Nelson N. Orie ◽

Patrick Vallance ◽

Dean P. Jones ◽

Kevin P. Moore

Keyword(s):

Nitric Oxide ◽

Molecular Weight ◽

Blood Flow ◽

Vascular Function ◽

Low Molecular Weight ◽

Aortic Blood Flow ◽

Hemodynamic Effects ◽

Rapid Decomposition ◽

Aortic Blood

It is now established that S-nitroso-albumin (SNO-albumin) circulates at low nanomolar concentrations under physiological conditions, but concentrations may increase to micromolar levels during disease states (e.g., cirrhosis or endotoxemia). This study tested the hypothesis that high concentrations of SNO-albumin observed in some diseases modulate vascular function and that it acts as a stable reservoir of nitric oxide (NO), releasing this molecule when the concentrations of low-molecular-weight thiols are increased. SNO-albumin was infused into rats to increase the plasma concentration from <50 nmol/l to ∼4 μmol/l. This caused a 29 ± 6% drop in blood pressure, 20 ± 4% decrease in aortic blood flow, and a 25 ± 14% reduction of renal blood flow within 10 min. These observations were in striking contrast to those of an infused arterial vasodilator (hydralazine), which increased aortic blood flow, and suggested that SNO-albumin acts primarily as a venodilator in vivo. This was confirmed by the observations that glyceryl trinitrate (a venodilator) led to similar hemodynamic changes and that the hemodynamic effects of SNO-albumin are reversed by infusion of colloid. Infusion of N-acetylcysteine into animals with artificially elevated plasma SNO-albumin concentrations led to the rapid decomposition of SNO-albumin in vivo and reproduced the hemodynamic effects of SNO-albumin infusion. These data demonstrate that SNO-albumin acts primarily as a venodilator in vivo and represents a stable reservoir of NO that can release NO when the concentrations of low-molecular-weight thiols are elevated.

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