The fibrin-derived peptide bβ15-42 attenuates liver damage in a rat model of liver ischemia/reperfusion injury.

The inflammatory response after liver ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) contributes to increased risk of liver failure after liver surgery. Strategies aimed to preventing inflammation could be beneficial in reducing liver I/R injury. Recent studies have demonstrated that peptide Bβ15-42 is able to decrease the injury of I/R in heart and kidney by inhibition of leukocyte migration and preserving endothelial barrier function. Prompted by these results, we hypothesized that Bβ15-42 could also possess anti-inflammatory abilities to protect from or reduce hepatic I/R injury. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of Bβ15-42 in a model of liver I/R injury in rats. Rats were treated with Bβ15-42 at initiation of reperfusion and 2 h thereafter. Rats were killed at 0.5, 6, 24, and 48 h after reperfusion. Hepatic mRNA levels of fibrinogen-α (Fgα), Fgβ, Fgγ were significantly increased after I/R. Treatment with Fg-derived Bβ15-42 ameliorated liver I/R injury, as indicated by lower serum aminotransferase levels and fewer I/R-associated histopathologic changes. Bβ15-42 treatment decreased leukocyte infiltration and expression of hepatic inflammatory cytokines. Moreover, Bβ15-42 significantly reduced high-mobility group box 1 release and altered mitogen-activated protein kinase activation. In conclusion, Bβ15-42 treatment protected against liver warm I/R injury. The mechanism of protective action of Bβ15-42 seemed to involve its ability to reduce hepatic inflammatory response through preventing high-mobility group box 1 release and altering mitogen-activated protein kinase activation.