ISCHAEMIC PRECONDITIONING PROTECTS SKELETAL MUSCLE MYOTUBES AGAINST ISCHAEMIA-REPERFUSION INJURY THROUGH ACTIVATION OF NRF2 SIGNALLING

Summary StatementIschaemic preconditioning protected skeletal myotubes against the effects of ischaemia-reperfusion in vitro. This protection was associated with increased Nrf2 signalling.IntroductionIschaemic preconditioning (IPC) is a well recognised and powerful phenomenon where a tissue becomes more tolerant to a period of prolonged ischaemia when it is first subjected to short bursts of ischaemia/reperfusion. While much is known about the ability of ischaemic preconditioning to protect myocardial tissue against ischaemia-reperfusion injury, its potential to confer benefit in an orthopaedic setting by protecting skeletal muscle remains relatively unexplored to date.One mechanism by which ischaemic preconditioning may induce protection is through a reduction in oxidative stress. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are generated both during prolonged ischaemia and also upon reperfusion by infiltrating neutrophils, thereby leading to an increase in oxidative stress. The transcription factor, NF-E2-related fact...