Abstract
This study aimed to determine the role of selective neutral sphingomyelinase (N-SMase) inhibition on arachidonic acid (AA) mediated inflammation following liver ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury. Selective N-SMase inhibitor was administered via intraperitoneal injections. Liver IR injury was created by clamping blood vessels supplying the median and left lateral hepatic lobes for 60 min, followed by 60 min reperfusion. Levels of AA in liver tissue were determined by multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) using ultra fast-liquid chromatography (UFLC) coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). Phospholipase A&sub2; (PLA&sub2;), cyclooxygenase (COX) and prostaglandin E&sub2; (PGE&sub2;) were measured in liver tissue. Arachidonic acid levels, activity of PLA&sub2;, COX and PGE&sub2; levels were significantly increased in postischemic liver tissue compared to nonischemic controls. N-SMase inhibition significantly decreased COX activity and PGE&sub2; levels in postischemic liver. Future studies evaluating agents blocking N-SMase activity can facilitate the development of treatment strategies to alleviate inflammation in liver I/R injury.