The Protective Effect of Ischemic Preconditioning Associated with Altered Gene Expression Profiles in Rat Lung after Reperfusion

BackgroundIschemia-reperfusion (IR) injury remains an important clinical problem after lung transplantation. It is well-known that ischemic preconditioning (IPC) markedly enhances the ability of organs to withstand a sustained ischemia and reperfusion injury. But the molecular mechanisms of this protective effect are poorly understood. Therefore, we used gene microarrays to profile gene expression patterns involved in ischemia precondition.MethodsThree groups of rats were studied: IR group (IR 0, 1, 3, 6, 24, n = 5 each group, IPC group (IP 1, IP 3, 6, 24h, n = 5 each group) and Sham group (n = 5). Samples were collected from different groups. The RatRef-12 expression Beadchip (22,226 gene probes per array) was used to analyze the pattern of gene expression in all groups.ResultsMicroarray analysis showed that 648, 340, 711, 1279, and 641 genes were differentially expressed in IR 0-, 1-, 3-, 6- and 24-h groups, respectively. The profile revealed that IPC induced significant alterations of expression of many genes encoding inflammatory associated factors, oxidation and antioxidant molecules, apoptosis regulatory protein, metabolic enzyme, and ion channel protein.ConclusionsThe damage and repair after lung IR are a dynamic process. IPC affects gene expression profiles in IR lung tissue mainly within 6h, and sustains until 24h later. IPC reduces lung IR injury mainly through anti-inflammatory response, antioxidative stress, and regulating cell energy metabolism and ion channels.