[Effects of taurine on TNF-alpha and NF-kappaB expression of liver injury after limbs ischemia/reperfusion in rats].

Aim: To investigate the effect of pretreatment with taurine on liver injury changes and the change of tumor necrosis factor alpha and NFkappaB expression following rats limbs ischemia/reperfusion.
Methods: The model of limbs ischemia/reperfusion injury on rats was adopted in the experiment. Wistar rats were randomized into 4 groups (n = 10): Control group, T group, I/R group and TR group. Levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and MDA in the plasma, MDA, MPO, calcium in liver tissues were measured by colorimetric method. The content of TNF-alpha in plasma and liver tissues was determined by radioimmunoassay. The morphologic changes were observed with HE staining. The expressions of NF-kappaBp65 in liver tissues were tested by immuno-histochemistry method.
Results: It was found that against the control group, the test values of ALT, AST, et al. and expressions of TNF-alpha, NF-kappaB increased in I/R group and TR group, but values of those in TR group were lower than in I/R group.
Conclusion: Taurine can decrease the levels of TNF-alpha and NF-kappaB. It can mitigate the liver injury after limb ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats.