Reperfusion injury pathophysiology

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Editors-In-Chief: Anjan K. Chakrabarti, M.D. [1]; C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [2]; Kashish Goel,M.D.

Overview

The pathophysiologic mechanisms underlying reperfusion injury include infarction, inflammation, an increase in intracellular calcium, development of edema, mitochodrial damage and activation of coagulation.

Mechanisms of reperfusion injury

Reperfusion injury occurs after reinstating the flow to myocardium after a period of reduced oxygen delivery. The damage of reperfusion injury is due in part to the inflammatory response of damaged tissues. White blood cells carried to the area by the newly returning blood release a host of inflammatory factors such as interleukins as well as free radicals in response to tissue damage [1]. The restored blood flow reintroduces oxygen within cells that damages cellular proteins, DNA, and the plasma membrane. Damage to the cell's membrane may in turn cause the release of more free radicals. Such reactive species may also act indirectly in redox signaling to turn on apoptosis. Leukocytes may also build up in small capillaries, obstructing them and leading to more ischemia[1].

Mitochondrial dysfunction plays an important role in reperfusion injury. While the mitochondrial membrane is usually impermeable to ions and metabolites, ischemia alters permeability by elevating intro-mitochondrial calcium concentrations, reducing adenine nucleotide concentrations, and causing oxidative stress. This primes the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP), which opens when reperfusion occurs[2]. This leads to an increased osmotic load into the mitochondrial body causing swelling and rupture, release of mitochondrial proteins which stimulate apoptosis. Mithochondrial function is disrupted and ATP is hydrolyzed, leading to the activation of degradative enzymes. Finally, excessive Poly ADP ribose polymerase-1 (PARP-1) activation impairs the function of other organelles and accelerates the production of reactive oxygen species[3].

In prolonged ischemia (60 minutes or more), hypoxanthine is formed as breakdown product of ATP metabolism. The enzyme xanthine dehydrogenase is converted to xanthine oxidase as a result of the higher availability of oxygen. This oxidation results in molecular oxygen being converted into highly reactive superoxide and hydroxyl radicals. Xanthine oxidase also produces uric acid, which may act as both a prooxidant and as a scavenger of reactive species such as peroxinitrite. Excessive nitric oxide produced during reperfusion reacts with superoxide to produce the potent reactive species peroxynitrite. Such radicals and reactive oxygen species attack cell membrane lipids, proteins, and glycosaminoglycans, causing further damage. They may also initiate specific biological processes by redox signaling.

Specific organs affected by reperfusion injury

The central nervous system

Reperfusion injury plays a part in the brain's ischemic cascade, which is involved in stroke and brain trauma. Repeated bouts of ischemia and reperfusion injury also are thought to be a factor leading to the formation and failure to heal of chronic wounds such as pressure sores and diabetic foot ulcers[4]. Continuous pressure limits blood supply and causes ischemia, and the inflammation occurs during reperfusion. As this process is repeated, it eventually damages tissue enough to cause a wound[4].

The myocardium

Restoration of epicardial patency can be associated with reperfusion injury in the myocardium. This can manifest in a number of ways clinically, including arrhythmia, microvascular dysfunction, myocardial stunning, and myocyte death.

Arrhythmia is mediated by mitochondrial dysfunction, as discussed above. The mitochondrion is unable to restore its inner membrane potential, leading to destabalization of the action potential[5].

Microvascular dysfunction, or "no reflow," as well as myocardial stunning, are both possible consequences of reperfusion injury. Myocardial stunning, which results from persistent anearobic metabolism that continues after reperfusion, may to some extent be mediated by impaired microvascular function[6][7][8][9].

An area of ongoing study is how much damage, or myocyte death, is attributable to ischemia vs. reperfusion injury after vessel patency has been established. Animal studies suggest that up to 50% of of infarct size can be related to reperfusion injury[10][11]. This opens the door for novel therapies that can attenuate myocyte death due to reperfusion injury.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Clark, Wayne M. (January 5, 2005). "Reperfusion Injury in Stroke". eMedicine. WebMD. Retrieved 2006-08-09.
  2. Halestrap AP, Clarke SJ, Javadov SA (2004). "Mitochondrial permeability transition pore opening during myocardial reperfusion--a target for cardioprotection". Cardiovasc. Res. 61 (3): 372–85. doi:10.1016/S0008-6363(03)00533-9. PMID 14962470. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  3. Zingarelli B, O'Connor M, Hake PW (2003). "Inhibitors of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase modulate signal transduction pathways in colitis". Eur. J. Pharmacol. 469 (1–3): 183–94. PMID 12782201. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  4. 4.0 4.1 Mustoe T. (2004). "Understanding chronic wounds: a unifying hypothesis on their pathogenesis and implications for therapy". AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SURGERY. 187 (5A): 65S–70S. PMID 15147994.
  5. Akar FG, Aon MA, Tomaselli GF, O'Rourke B (2005). "The mitochondrial origin of postischemic arrhythmias". J. Clin. Invest. 115 (12): 3527–35. doi:10.1172/JCI25371. PMC 1280968. PMID 16284648. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  6. Iliceto S, Galiuto L, Marchese A; et al. (1996). "Analysis of microvascular integrity, contractile reserve, and myocardial viability after acute myocardial infarction by dobutamine echocardiography and myocardial contrast echocardiography". Am. J. Cardiol. 77 (7): 441–5. PMID 8629581. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  7. Iliceto S, Galiuto L, Marchese A, Colonna P, Oliva S, Rizzon P (1997). "Functional role of microvascular integrity in patients with infarct-related artery patency after acute myocardial infarction". Eur. Heart J. 18 (4): 618–24. PMID 9129892. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  8. Ito H, Maruyama A, Iwakura K; et al. (1996). "Clinical implications of the 'no reflow' phenomenon. A predictor of complications and left ventricular remodeling in reperfused anterior wall myocardial infarction". Circulation. 93 (2): 223–8. PMID 8548892. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  9. Sabia PJ, Powers ER, Ragosta M, Sarembock IJ, Burwell LR, Kaul S (1992). "An association between collateral blood flow and myocardial viability in patients with recent myocardial infarction". N. Engl. J. Med. 327 (26): 1825–31. doi:10.1056/NEJM199212243272601. PMID 1448120. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  10. Matsumura K, Jeremy RW, Schaper J, Becker LC (1998). "Progression of myocardial necrosis during reperfusion of ischemic myocardium". Circulation. 97 (8): 795–804. PMID 9498544. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  11. Arai M, Lefer DJ, So T, DiPaula A, Aversano T, Becker LC (1996). "An anti-CD18 antibody limits infarct size and preserves left ventricular function in dogs with ischemia and 48-hour reperfusion". J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. 27 (5): 1278–85. PMID 8609356. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)