P-selectin contributes to the initial recruitment of rolling and adherent leukocytes in hepatic venules after ischemia/reperfusion.

We have recently reported that hepatic ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) is associated with a biphasic increase in the expression of P-selectin in the liver microvasculature, with peak expression levels observed at 20 min and 5 h after reperfusion. This I/R-induced upregulation of P-selectin expression is accompanied by leukocyte-endothelial cell adhesion in terminal hepatic venules (THV). The objective of this study was to determine whether the early expression of P-selectin contributes to the initial recruitment of rolling and adherent leukocytes in THV after liver I/R. Left hepatic lobe ischemia was induced for 30 min in anesthetized C57B1/6 and P-selectin knockout (KO) mice. The number of rolling, saltating, and adherent leukocytes in THV was measured at 0, 15, 30, 60, and 120 min after reperfusion using intravital video microscopy. Hepatic I/R elicited significant increases in the number of rolling, saltating, and adherent leukocytes, with peak values observed at 30 min after reperfusion. All of these responses were absent in P-selectin KO mice and in C57B1/6 mice treated with a blocking antibody to P-selectin. Our findings suggest that P-selectin is the primary determinant of leukocyte-endothelial cell adhesion observed in hepatic venules in the initial period after I/R. Hence, this adhesion molecule may represent a target for therapeutic intervention in liver transplantation and other conditions associated with hepatic I/R.