The Role of the JAK-STAT Signaling Pathway in the Protective Effects of Hepatic Ischemia Post-Conditioning against the Injury Induced by Ischemia/Reperfusion in the Rat Liver

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Abstract
Purpose: Hepatic ischemia post-conditioning (IPOC) is shown to protect the liver from injury induced by ischemia/reperfusion (IR). However, the mechanism underlying this protection has remained elusive. The present study aimed to investigate the role of the interleukin 6-Janus kinase-signal transducers and activators of transcription (IL-6-JAK-STAT) pathway in the protective effect of hepatic IPOC against the IR-induced injury in the liver. Methods: 25 rats were randomly divided into 5 groups of 1) sham-operated, 2) IR, 3) IR+hepatic IPOC, 4) IR+ tofacitinib (TOFA), and 5) IR+TOFA+ hepatic IPOC. The changes induced by IR and the effects of different treatments were assessed by enzyme release, histopathological observations, the serum level of IL-6, and the occurrence of apoptosis detected via the expression of the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. Results: The hepatic IPOC improved the liver injury induced by IR as shown by histological changes, reduction of IL-6 level, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) compared to the IR group (p<0.001, p<0.05, p<0.05, respectively). There was also downregulation of the Bax/Bcl2 ratio in the rats exposed to IR + hepatic IPOC compared with those in the IR group (p<0.05). However, TOFA, an inhibitor of JAK-STAT activity, inhibited the protective effect of hepatic IPOC. Conclusion: It suggests that the protective effect of hepatic IPOC against IR-induced injury may be mediated by activating the IL-6-JAK-STAT pathway.

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