The protective function of neutrophil elastase inhibitor in liver ischemia/reperfusion injury

BACKGROUND: A neutrophil elastase (NE) inhibitor, Sivelestat, has been approved for the treatment of acute lung injury associated with systemic inflammation in humans. Some reports have also shown its protective effects in liver inflammatory states. We have recently documented the importance of NE in the pathophysiology of liver ischemia/reperfusion injury, a local Ag-independent inflammation response. This study was designed to explore putative cytoprotective functions of clinically available Sivelestat in liver ischemia/reperfusion injury. METHODS: Partial warm ischemia was produced in the left and middle hepatic lobes of C57BL/6 mice for 90 min, followed by 6 or 24 hr of reperfusion. The mice were given Sivelestat (100 mg/kg, subcutaneous) at 10 min before ischemia, 10 min before reperfusion, and at 1 and 3 hr of reperfusion thereafter. RESULTS: Sivelestat treatment significantly reduced serum alanine aminotransferase levels and NE activity, when compared with controls. Histological liver examination has revealed that unlike in controls, Sivelestat ameliorated the hepatocellular damage and decreased local neutrophil activity and infiltration. The expression of proinflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6), chemokines (CXCL-1, CXCL-2, and CXCL-10), and toll-like receptor 4 was significantly reduced in the treatment group, along with diminished apoptosis through caspase-3 pathway. Moreover, in vitro studies confirmed downregulation of proinflammatory cytokine and chemokine programs in mouse macrophage cell cultures, along with depression of innate toll-like receptor 4 signaling. CONCLUSION: Sivelestat-mediated NE inhibition may represent an effective therapeutic option in liver transplantation and other inflammation disease states.