Expression of the CXC chemokine receptor 3 and its ligands in ischemia-reperfusion injury of liver in rats

Objective. To explore the expression of the CXC chemokine receptor 3 (CXCR3) and its ligands (IP-10, Mig) in ischemiareperfusion (I/R) injury of rat livers. Methods. Thirty-two Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups with eight rats in each group: sham operation (SO) and 6-, 12-, or 24-hour I/R groups. The levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in liver tissues were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The expressions of CXCR3 and its ligands (IP-10, Mig) were detected by semiquantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. The serum levels of alanine transferase and aspartate transferase were also measured. Results. Low expressions of CXCR3, IP-10, and Mig mRNA were determined in the SO group. The expressions of CXCR3 and IP-10 mRNA in the ischemic tissue of the I/R group were significantly greater than those in the SO group (P < .01). The expressions of CXCR3 and IP-10 mRNA of the ischemic tissue in the 6-hour I/R group were higher than those in the 12-hour I/R group (P < .01). There was no difference in the levels of Mig mRNA between the I/R and SO groups. Compared with the SO group, the level of TNF-alpha was significantly increased in the I/R group, reaching its peak at reperfusion 12 hour. Conclusion. The mRNA expressions of CXCR3 and its ligand IP-10 were up-regulated in liver I/R tissue in the early time, which suggested that they play an important role in liver injury induced by I/R.