Effect of lycopene in the liver ischemia reperfusion injury of rats and its influence on autophagy

Objective To observe the role of lycopene played in the liver ischemia reperfusion injury, and its effort on autophagy. Methods Eighty SPF male SD rats(Animal Laboratory of the Yang Zhou University) were divided into 4 groups by random number table. Sham-operated group: after anesthesia, just opened the abdominal cavity. Treatment group: after molding, lycopene (10 mg/kg) was dissolved in medicinal corn oil (2 ml/kg) and intraperitoneal injection was performed. The lycopene was injected 60 minutes before surgery.Control group: after molding, intraperitoneal injection of equal volume of normal saline was given. Inhibiting group: lycopene (10 mg/kg) + 3-ma (15 mg/kg) were injected into the abdominal cavity after injection.20 rats in each group. The determination of sample collection and observation of indicators at 1 h, 6 h, 12 h, 24 h after ischemia reperfusion. The serum ALT and AST levels were checked.The mRNA expression of TNF-α and IL-6 was measured by real-time PCR and the expression of Beclin-1, was detected by western blotting.Hematoxylin and Eeosin staining was used to evaluate the pathological change of liver tissues. The measurement data were expressed as (Mean±SD), comparisons between the two groups were analyzed by independent sample t test, and comparisons among groups were analyzed by One-way anova and Newman-keuls method. Results The serum ALT levels of Sham-operated group in 1 h, 6 h, 12 h, 24 h were (39.81±13.54), (39.65±14.24), (39.61±13.68), (38.72±12.85) U/L, the serum ALT levels of liver ischemia-reperfusion control group in 1 h, 6 h, 12 h, 24 h were (128.43±33.49), (637.26±89.53), (289.76±43.59), (124.26±35.32)U/L.Compared with Sham-operated group, the serum ALT levels of liver ischemia-reperfusion control group were significantly increased(P<0.05). The serum ALT levels of treatment group in 1 h, 6 h, 12 h, 24 h were (73.26±23.24), (419.27±56.49), (196.23±26.23), 79.76±20.43) U/L. Compared with liver ischemia-reperfusion control group, the serum ALT levels of treatment group were significantly declined(P<0.05). The serum ALT levels of inhibiting group in 1 h, 6 h, 12 h, 24 h were (142.59±42.86), (592.45±48.36), (268.23±42.36), (131.23±24.36) U/L. Compared with treatment group, the serum ALT levels of treatment group were significantly increased (P<0.05). Compared with liver ischemia-reperfusion control group, the serum AST levels and the expression of inflammatory factor TNF alpha and IL-6 of treatment group were significantly declined(P<0.05). The results of light microscope indicated that treatment groups significantly reduce the liver cell damage compared with liver ischemia-reperfusion control group. The lycopene could promote the autophagy of mice which related to protein of Beclin-1. Drugs of 3-ma which inhibit autophagy, reduces the expression of Beclin-1. Conclusion Lycopene preconditioning can protect liver from ischemia reperfusion injury by promoting autophagy in liver cells. Key words: Reperfusion injury; Autophagy; Liver; Rats; Lycopene