Duan Ming-ke, Junbin L, Shengshui X, Wei X, Yizhe G and Muhuo G
Objective: Ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury of the lungs is still a critical problem and a challenge in the field of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery. This study will evaluate effects of Ulinastatin(UTI) on the Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1(ICAM-1) in the lung ischemia-reperfusion injury of rats. Methods: Single lung in suit warm I/R animal model was used. The rats were subjected to 90 min left lung ischemia followed by 30 min and 120 min of reperfusion separately. The animals were divided into 6 groups. The lungs were removed before ischemia (group pre-I, n=6), before reperfusion (group pre-R, n=6), 30 min (group NU-30, n=6) and 120 min (group NU-120, n=6) after reperfusion began. The UTI (50000 U/kg) was administered just before reperfusion began and the lungs were removed 30 min (group U-30, n=6) and 120 min (group U-120, n=6) after reperfusion began. For ELISA assay of ICAM-1, the supernatants from left lung tissue homogenates were used. Results: The level of ICAM-1 was increasing as ischemia and reperfusion lasted from Group Pre-R to Group Nu- 120. When UTI was admitted before reperfusion, the ICAM-1 was down-regulated as seen in the Group U-30 and the group U-120, but in the group U-30 the ICAM-1 was down-regulated significantly(P<0.05). Conclusion: Ulinastatin protects lung through down-regulate intercellular adhesion molecule-1(ICAM-1) expression in model of experimental ischemia reperfusion injury.