Modulation of P-selectin expression in the postischemic intestinal microvasculature

Abstract

The dual radiolabeled monoclonal antibody technique was used to 1) define the magnitude and kinetics of P-selectin expression in murine small intestine exposed to ischemia-reperfusion (I/R), and 2) determine the factor(s) responsible for initiating this response. Within 10 min after release of a 20-min arterial occlusion, intestinal P-selectin expression increased two- to threefold compared with control values. Peak (4-fold) expression of P-selectin was noted at 5 h after reperfusion, returning to the control value at 24 h. The early (10–30 min) I/R-induced upregulation of P-selectin appears to reflect mobilization of a preformed pool of the adhesion molecule, whereas the later (5 h) rise appears to be transcription dependent. The early increase in P-selectin expression was not inhibited by pretreatment with either oxypurinol (inhibits xanthine oxidase), diphenhydramine (H1-receptor antagonist), or MK-571 (leukotriene C4/D4antagonist), nor was it blunted in transgenic mice expressing three times the normal level of copper-zinc superoxide dismutase or in mast cell-deficient mice. However, significant inhibition was noted after treatment with either MK-886 (5-lipoxygenase inhibitor) or a nitric oxide (NO) donor (diethylenetriamine/NO). These findings indicate that the early I/R-induced increase in intestinal P-selectin expression is mediated by a 5-lipoxygenase-dependent NO-inhibitable mechanism.