Characterization of Different Gene Families Encoding for Pro-Apoptotic and Anti-Apoptotic as Well as Genes Encoding for Oxidative Stress Induced Cell Damage in Organ Donation: An Animal Study
Department for Transplantation Surgery, Medical University Graz, Graz, Austria
Department for Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Medical University Graz, Graz, Austria
Department for Oncology, Medical University Graz, Graz, Austria
Division of Biomedical Research and Section for Surgical Research, Medical University Graz, Graz, Austria
Meeting: 2013 American Transplant Congress
Abstract number: C1252
Literature is controversial about the influence of different gene families on the quality of organs after brain death as compared to living donation. In this large animal study we investigated the influence of genes encoding for pro-apoptotic, anti-apoptotic as well as genes encoding for oxidative stress induced cell damage in tissues harvested from animals immitating living donation as well as organ retrieval after brain death. Using PCR analysis, BAX, BCL2, GSH, GPX3, NFkB, SOD, Hsp70, PPARalpha as well as HPRT were analysed in this tissue. Moreover, immunhistology was used to detect oxidative and nitrosative cell damage by staining against activated caspase 3 as well as nitrotyrosines. Serum samples were analysed for MPO and MDA immediately prior to organ harvesting in order to correlate elevation of these markers with lipid peroxidation as well as oxidative stress.
There was a significant elevation of Hsp70 as well as PPAR alpha, HPRT and BAX expression in brain dead donor organs; Elevation in GSH expression correlated well with MDA levels in the serum as well as with nitrosative stress induced cell damage detected by immunohistochemistry. Activated caspase 3 was more likely to be detected after cold ischemia time in brain dead donor organs as compared to living donors after cold ischemia time; however, there was no statistically significant difference after organ harvest.
These insights might help to improve strategies to ameliorate organ quality of marginal brain dead donors in order to expand the donor pool and shorten waiting lists.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
Stiegler P, Sereinigg M, Puntschart A, Bradatsch A, Stanzer S, Stdelmeyer E, Wiederstein-Grasser I, Iberer F, Tscheliessnigg K, Stadlbauer V. Characterization of Different Gene Families Encoding for Pro-Apoptotic and Anti-Apoptotic as Well as Genes Encoding for Oxidative Stress Induced Cell Damage in Organ Donation: An Animal Study [abstract]. Am J Transplant. 2013; 13 (suppl 5). https://atcmeetingabstracts.com/abstract/characterization-of-different-gene-families-encoding-for-pro-apoptotic-and-anti-apoptotic-as-well-as-genes-encoding-for-oxidative-stress-induced-cell-damage-in-organ-donation-an-animal-study/. Accessed May 14, 2025.« Back to 2013 American Transplant Congress