Mechanism of the protective effects of N-acetylcysteine on the heart of brain-dead Ba-Ma miniature pigs.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Severe stress response induced by brain death leads to a marked increase in the expression of inflammatory cytokines regulated by nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB). N-acetylcysteine may inhibit activation of the NF-kappaB pathway. This study examined the expression of NF-kappaB in the hearts of brain-dead Ba-Ma miniature pigs and the protection potential of N-acetylcysteine.

METHODS:

Ba-Ma miniature pigs were randomized into 3 groups: control group (Group C), N-acetylcysteine-free group (Group B), and N-acetylcysteine treatment group (Group N). At 6, 12, and 24 hours after the initial brain death, serum cardiac troponin-T (cTnT), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), and IL-6 were examined. Heart tissue was taken 24 hours after the initial brain death. Structural changes of the heart and the expression of NF-kappaB were analyzed.

RESULTS:

At 6 hours after the initial brain death, serum levels of cTnT, TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, and IL-6 in Groups B and N began to increase. Levels in Group B increased more dramatically than in Group N. At 24 hours, cardiocyte damage was documented, but the damage in Group N was less severe than that in Group B. The expression of NF-kappaB in Groups B and N increased, and expression in Group B increased more sharply than in Group N.

CONCLUSIONS:

N-acetylcysteine can alleviate both structural and functional injury of the heart during brain death, which might be related to the inhibition of NF-kappaB expression and decreasing release of inflammatory mediators.

• Authors: Wenlong Zhai, Ruo Feng, Liang Huo, Jie Li, Shuijun Zhang
• Journal: The Journal of heart and lung transplantation : the official publication of the International Society for Heart Transplantation (J Heart Lung Transplant) Vol. 28 Issue 9 Pg. 944-9 (Sep 2009) ISSN: 1557-3117 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 19716048 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• DNA Primers
• Interleukin-1beta
• Interleukin-6
• Troponin T
• Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
• RNA
• Acetylcysteine

Topics

• Acetylcysteine (pharmacology)
• Animals
• Brain Death (pathology, physiopathology)
• DNA Primers
• Disease Models, Animal
• Fasting
• Heart (drug effects, physiology)
• Interleukin-1beta (pharmacology)
• Interleukin-6 (pharmacology)
• Intermittent Positive-Pressure Ventilation
• Intubation, Intratracheal (methods)
• RNA (genetics, isolation & purification)
• Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (methods)
• Swine
• Swine, Miniature
• Troponin T (blood, drug effects)
• Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (pharmacology)