Ryanodine Receptor Antagonism Protects the Ischemic Liver and Modulates TNF-α and IL-10

BackgroundDantrolene is a ryanodine receptor and intracellular calcium antagonist. The ryanodine receptor (RyR) Ca2+ release channel mobilizes Ca2+ from internal stores to support a variety of cellular functions, including the inflammatory response after ischemia and reperfusion. The pharmacological mechanism of dantrolene is associated with the inhibition of the release of Ca2+ from the skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR). We hypothesized that dantrolene could exert a protective effect in our model of liver ischemia and reperfusion by modulating TNF-α and IL-10.Material and methodsMice subjected to 90 min of partial (70 to 80%) hepatic ischemia and 3 h of reperfusion were divided into five groups (n = 6/group): sham, ischemic control, and the dantrolene 1 mg/kg group studied at three times of administration: 15 min before reperfusion (DAN-PRE), at the time of reperfusion (DAN-RP), and 15 min after reperfusion (DAN-POS). The parameters measured at 3 h of reperfusion included serum liver function tests alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), TNF-α, and IL-10 in serum and liver histology.ResultsIt was demonstrated that the RyR intracellular calcium antagonist dantrolene offered the most significant protection for the ischemic liver when given before reperfusion and at the time of reperfusion. AST significantly differed between the control group and the DAN-PRE and DAN-RP groups (P < 0.05). ALT showed a statistically significant decrease in the DAN-PRE treated group and a decrease, although not significant, in the DAN-RP. Histological examination demonstrated a significant decrease in vacuolization in the same both groups (P < 0.05). Necrosis was significantly diminished when dantrolene was used at the time of reperfusion; congestion decreased in the same groups but without statistical significant difference. The levels of TNF-α were significantly decreased in the DAN-RP group. There was a decrease in TNF-α in the DAN-PRE group but not statistically significant. IL-10 reflected the protection observed in necrosis and vacuolization in the histopathology with an increment at the time of reperfusion (P < 0.05). DAN-POS did not exert a protective effect in ALT, AST, liver histology, or cytokine response.ConclusionFor the first time the ryanodine receptor antagonist dantrolene offered significant functional and structural protection of the ischemic liver when given at the time for reperfusion and partial protection when given prereperfusion. RyR inhibition approach down-regulated the expression of TNF-α and induced an increment of the protective cytokine IL-10 when administered at the time of reperfusion. There was no protective effect of dantrolene after reperfusion.