Protective Effects of Nitric Oxide and Phycocyanin Against Oxidative Stress Induced by Hepatic Ischemia/Reperfusion Injuries

Liver ischemia-reperfusion induced hepatocellular damage that contributes to the morbidity and mortality1,2 associated with shock, thermal injury, re-sectional surgery and liver transplantation. One of the earliest events associated with reperfusion of ischemic liver is the release of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) causing oxidative stress. The following review focuses on the antioxidant effects of nitric oxide (NO) and Phycocyanin (Pc) after cold ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI). In this regard, this review investigates in the first part the effect of the addition of NO to the preservation solution at different concentrations (1000, 500 and 50 nM) and in the second part the effect of the addition of phycocyanin to the conservation solution at two doses (0.2 mg / ml / g of liver and 0.1 mg / ml / g of liver) on liver graft quality. In conclusion, phycocyanin and nitric oxide (at a low dose) are effective in preserving the hepatic graft and protecting it against IRI by acting as a potent antioxidant against the products of oxidative stress.