Dynamics of glutamine synthetase expression in hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury: Implications for therapeutic interventions

Abstract

BACKGROUND Hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) poses a great challenge in liver surgery and transplantation because of oxidative stress and inflammatory responses. The changes in glutamine synthetase (GS) expression during hepatic IRI remain unclear. AIM To investigate the dynamic expression of GS during hepatic IRI. METHODS Following hepatic ischemia for 1 h and reperfusion, liver tissue samples were collected at 0.5, 6, and 24 hours postreperfusion for fixation, embedding, sectioning. Hematoxylin and eosin staining and GS staining were performed. RESULTS GS expression rapidly decreases in hepatocytes around the central vein after IRI, reaching its lowest point at 6 hours postreperfusion, and then gradually recovers. CONCLUSION GS is highly sensitive to IRI, highlighting its potential role as an indicator of liver injury states and a target for therapeutic intervention.