P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (rPSGL-Ig)-mediated blockade of CD62 selectin molecules protects rat steatotic liver grafts from ischemia/reperfusion injury.

We examined the effects of early blockade of CD62 selectin-mediated adhesive interactions in steatotic rat liver models of ex vivo cold ischemia followed by reperfusion or transplantation by administration of P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (rPSGL-Ig). In the model of cold ischemia/reperfusion, livers pretreated ex vivo with rPSGL-Ig at harvesting from obese Zucker rats showed significantly decreased portal resistance, increased bile production, and diminished hepatic endothelial neutrophil infiltration, as compared with untreated controls. Pretreatment of fatty livers with rPSGL-Ig prior to transplantation extended the survival of lean Zucker rat recipients from 40% to 90%. This effect correlated with significantly improved liver function, depressed neutrophil activity, and decreased histologic features of hepatocyte injury. Intragraft expression of CD62 P-selectin was similar in both recipient groups. rPSGL-Ig treatment decreased intragraft infiltration by CD3/CD25 cells, diminished expression of pro-inflammatory TNFalpha, IL-6, NOS, IL-2 and IFN-gamma, without significantly affecting mRNA levels coding for anti-inflammatory IL-4. Thus, rPSGL-Ig blockade of CD62-mediated adhesive interactions protects against severe ischemia/reperfusion injury suffered otherwise by steatotic rat livers. These findings document the potential utility of rPSGL-Ig in increasing the transplant donor pool through modulation of marginal steatotic livers.