Prevention of reperfusion injury with CD18 monoclonal antibody and superoxide dismutase

Kang, Nak Heon; Son, Kyung Dong; Han, Ki Taik; Lim, Poong; Kim, Hwan Mook

Abstract

Prolonged ischemia results in cellular necrosis and only prompt restoration of blood flow will prevent this type of injury. However, reperfusion itself can cause significant injury of previously ischemic tissue, i.e. "reperfusion injury'. This is an issue of concern in many areas of reconstructive surgery including free tissue transfer and replantation. Many factors have been implicated in the cause of reperfusion injury. Oxygen free radicals have enjoyed increasing popularity recently, but leukocytes had been thought to have a role only in the healing process that follows ischemic injury. Current studies in myocardium, liver and intestine have shown a dramatic increase in tissue leukocytes after ischemia-reperfusion and evidence implicating leukocytes in pathogenesis of ischemia-reperfusion injury has come from studies demonstrating significant injury reduction by depletion of circulating neutrophils. Therefore, increased neutrophil adhesiveness is a critical early step in the sequence of events leading to neutrophil-mediated injury. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of CDl8 monoclonal antibody(CDl8 mAb), blocking antibody of neutrophil adherence, and superoxide dismutase (SOD), free radical scavenger, on reperfusion injury in rat epigastric island skin flap. The epigastric pedicle was occluded for six hours with ambient temperature at 22+/-1degrees C. The epigastric nerve was carefully dissected out and left intact to minimize autocannibalization. The flaps were sutured back down to their beds over interposed silicone sheets to prevent plasmatic imbibition. Fifteen minutes before reperfusion, the flaps were perfused with saline, CDl8 mAb(1 mg/kg), SOD(20,000 unit/kg) or CDl8 mAh/SOD(1 mg/kg + 20,000unit/kg). Percentage of flap survival was assessed by computerized planimetry on the seventh day. Tissue biopsies for myeloperoxidase(MPO) and malonyldialdehyde (MDA) were obtained at 24 hours after reperfusion. The results were as follows. 1. Percentage of flap survival was significantly increased in CDl8 mAb/SOD, CDl8 mAb and SOD groups in order, compared to the control(P < 0.05). Percentage of flap survival was significantly increased in CDl8 mAb group as compared with SOD group(p < 0.05). Percentage of flap survival significantly increased in CDl8 mAb/SOD group as compared with CDl8 mAb and SOD groups(p < 0.05) 2. MPO activity was significantly decreased in CDl8 mAb/SOD, CDl8 mAb and SOD groups(p < 0.01). MPO activity was significantly decreased in CDl8 mAb group as compared with SOD group. (p < 0.01). 3. MDA content was significantly decreased in CDl8 mAb/SOD, CDl8 mAb and SOD groups (p < 0.01), but the difference between CDl8 mAb and SOD groups was not significant. From those above results, we get to the conclusion that blocking neutrophil adherence and/or aggregation with monoclonal antibodies to CDl8 as compared with radical scavenger significantly ameliorates reperfusion injury. It is suggested that combination of modalities with antiadhesion therapy and radical scavenger may have a synergistic effect of improving flap survival and may be the optimal prevention of ischemiareperfusion injury.