[The relationship between tumor necrosis factor and injuries of liver graft and lung after orthotopic liver transplantation in rats].

OBJECTIVE: To study the relationship between tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) levels and ischemia-reperfusion injury of liver graft and lung after different cold-storage time during the early stage after orthotopic liver transplantation in rats. METHODS: Orthotopic liver transplantation was performed in SD rats. The survival rates, the pathology of liver graft and lung and the peripheral seral ALT levels were observed and the bile secretion volume and TNFalpha activities of post-hepatic blood were examined at regular intervals. The animals were divided into 3 groups: control, 4 h cold-storage group, and 6 h cold-storage group (4 degrees C Ringer's solution). RESULTS: All the animals in the control and the 4 h group survived over 60 days, and none survived over 3 days in the 6 h group. The bile secretion volumes were larger in the control and the 4 h group than in the 6 h group (P < 0.05), and the ALT levels were lower in the control and 4 h group than in 6 h group (P < 0.05). The TNFalpha activity was not detected in the control but elevated significantly in the 6 h group, peaked, 2 h after the operation, and only slightly elevated in the 4 h group at the same time (P < 0.05). There were significant focal necrosis of liver graft and alveolar edema and leukocyte infiltration in the lungs in the 6 h group but no obvious injuries were observed in the 4 h group and the control. CONCLUSIONS: TNFalpha may contribute to the pathogenesis of ischemia-reperfusion injury of liver graft and pulmonary complications during the early stage after orthotopic liver transplantation. TNFalpha possibly originates from Kupffer cells of liver graft.