Relationship Between Tumor Necrosis Factor and Injuries of Liver Graft after Orthotopic Liver Transplantation in Rats

Objective To study the relationship between tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) levels and ischemia-reperfusion injury of liver grafts after different cold-storage time during the early stage after orthotopic liver transplantation in rats. Methods The survival periods and peripheral serum ALT levels were observed, and the secretion volume of bile as well as TNF-α activities of blood from portal vein of rats with liver grafts were examined. Results All the animals in groups of control and 4 h cold storage survived over 50 d, and group of 8 h cold storage survived less than 3 d. The secretion volume of bile were more in control and 4 h groups than that in 8 h group( P 0.05), and the ALT levels were lower in control and 4 h group than that in 8 h group( P 0.05). The activity of TNF-α was not detected in the control but elevated significantly in the 8 h group, especially 2 h after operation, and only elevated slightly in the 4 h group at the same time( P 0.05). Conclusion The upregulation of TNF-α is involved in the mechanism of ischemia-reperfusion injury of liver graft during the early stage after orthotopic liver transplantation. TNF-α may be originated from Kupffer cells of liver graft.