Grape seed proanthocyanidin protects liver against ischemia/reperfusion injury by attenuating endoplasmic reticulum stress

Figure 1 Effects of grape seed proanthocyanidin on serum aminotransferase levels after reperfusion. The levels of A: Alanine aminotransferase (ALT); and B: Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) after ischemia/reperfusion (IR) and with grape seed proanthocyanidin (GSP) treatment. C: Histopathologic changes were scored (Suzuki score) in tissues collected 6 h after reperfusion; D: The sham group showed normal liver structure; E: IR induced severe lobular distortion, apparent edema, hemorrhage, neutrophil infiltration, and cell apoptosis; F: GSP administration improved the condition (HE, 200 ×); n = 8 each; ^aP < 0.05, ^bP < 0.01 vs IR.

Figure 2 Effects of grape seed proanthocyanidin on inflammatory factors after reperfusion. A-D: ELISA; and E-F: Reverse-transcription PCR were performed to evaluate release and expression of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, interleukin (IL)-10, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α after ischemia/reperfusion (IR) and with grape seed proanthocyanidin (GSP) treatment; n = 8 each; ^aP < 0.05, ^bP < 0.01 vs IR.

Figure 3 Effects of grape seed proanthocyanidin on superoxide dismutase and methane dicarboxylic aldehyde levels. Levels of A: superoxide dismutase (SOD); and B: Methane dicarboxylic aldehyde (MDA) after ischemia/reperfusion (IR) and with grape seed proanthocyanidin (GSP) treatment; n = 8; ^bP < 0.01 vs IR.

Figure 4 Effects of grape seed proanthocyanidin on hepatocytic apoptosis. TUNEL staining was performed and 100 cells per field were counted in three fields (400 ×). A: Sham; B: Ischemia/reperfusion (IR); and C: IR with grape seed proanthocyanidin (GSP) treatment; D: Quantification of TUNEL staining; n = 8 each; ^bP < 0.01 vs IR.

Figure 5 Effects of grape seed proanthocyanidin on the protein expression of endoplasmic reticulum stress proteins in the liver. The expression of glucose-regulated protein (GRP)78, inositol-requiring enzyme (IRE)-1, nuclear factor (NF)-κb, procaspase-12, activating transcription factor (ATF)-4, and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein homologous protein (CHOP) was assessed by Western blotting after ischemia/reperfusion (IR) and with grape seed proanthocyanidin (GSP) treatment. GAPDH was used as a loading control.