Effect of remifentanil on NF-κB and ICAM-1 expression in hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury of rats

Objective To observe the effect of remifentanil preconditioning on the expression of NF-κB and ICAM-1in hepatic ischemia reperfusion injury of rats.Methods Twenty-four SD rats were randomly divided into sham operation group(group S),ischemia reperfusion group(group IR), remifentanil preconditioing group(group R).Groups IR and R were subjected to ischemia for 45min and followed by reperfusion for 2hours in the ischemia reperfusion model.Liver histological pathological changes were observed with light microscope.Serum levels of alanine aminotransferase(ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase(AST)were determined after reperfusion for 2hours.Western blotting was used for assaying NF-κB and ICAM-1expression in the liver.Results Light microscopy showed that the damage degree of group R was less than group IR.Compared with group S,the serum levels of ALT and AST and the hepatic NF-κB and ICAM-1expression were increased in group IR(P0.05).Compared with group IR,the serum levels of ALT and AST and the hepatic NF-κB and ICAM-1expression were decreased in group R(P0.05).Conclusion Remifentanil preconditioning could reduce the degree of damage during hepatic ischemia reperfusion injury,which might be related to the reduction of ICAM-1through inhibiting NF-κB expression.