Bucillamine is a low molecular weight thiol antioxidant that is capable of rapidly entering cells. We hypothesized that bucillamine acts by replenishing glutathione levels, thus reducing neutrophil activation, modulating Bax/Bcl-2 expression, and subsequently, attenuating the effects of warm ischemia–reperfusion injury (IRI) in the liver. Methods:  The effect of bucillamine was studied in a rat model of liver IRI with 45 min of partial (70%) liver ischemia and 3 h of reperfusion. Liver injury was RG7420 datasheet assessed by measuring serum

transaminases (aspartate aminotransferase [AST] and alanine aminotransferase [ALT]) and liver histology. Oxidative stress was quantified by measuring F2 isoprostane and glutathione levels. Leukocyte adhesion was assessed by intravital microscopy, and inflammatory cytokine response was assessed by measuring serum cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant-1 (CINC-1) levels. Bax and Bcl-2 expression was measured by reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction. Results:  The model produced significant liver injury with elevated transaminases and an acute inflammatory response. Bucillamine reduced the liver injury, as indicated by reduced AST (932 ± 200.8 vs 2072.5 ± 511.79, P < 0.05). Bucillamine reduced Bax expression, serum CINC-1 levels, and neutrophil adhesion, and upregulated Bcl-2. However,

bucillamine did not Z VAD FMK affect tissue glutathione levels nor the levels of oxidative stress, as measured by plasma and hepatic F2 isoprostane levels. Conclusions:  Bucillamine reduces warm ischemia–reperfusion in the liver by inhibiting neutrophil activation and modulating Bax/Bcl-2 expression. “
“Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu City, Taiwan Universty of Utrecht, Utrecht, the

Netherlands Christian Medical College, Vellore, India VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, Mannose-binding protein-associated serine protease the Netherlands Sorafenib—a broad kinase inhibitor—is a standard therapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and has been shown to exert antifibrotic effects in liver cirrhosis, a precursor of HCC. However, the effects of sorafenib on tumor desmoplasia—and its consequences on treatment resistance—remain unknown. We demonstrate that sorafenib has differential effects on tumor fibrosis versus liver fibrosis in orthotopic models of HCC in mice. Sorafenib intensifies tumor hypoxia, which increases stromal-derived factor 1 alpha (SDF-1α) expression in cancer and stromal cells and, subsequently, myeloid differentiation antigen–positive (Gr-1+) myeloid cell infiltration. The SDF-1α/C-X-C receptor type 4 (CXCR4) pathway directly promotes hepatic stellate cell (HSC) differentiation and activation through the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway.