Evaluation of the viability of the canine cadaver lung for transplantation.

We evaluated the viability of the cadaver lung and the effect of lung inflation with 100% oxygen using a canine allotransplantation model. Donor animals were killed by potassium chloride (KCl) injection and were kept at room temperature until lung extraction. The animals were divided into the following 3 groups: group 1 (n = 6) in which the donor lungs were retrieved 2h after sacrifice, group 2 (n = 6) in which the donor lungs were retrieved 3h after sacrifice, and group 3 (n = 6) in which the donor lungs were retrieved 3h after sacrifice as in group 2 except that they were kept inflated for 3h with 100% oxygen using a double lumen endotracheal tube. Heparin was not given and lungs were not flushed with preservation solution. After left lung transplantation, the transplanted lung function including gas exchange and pulmonary hemodynamics was assessed for 6h by ligating the right pulmonary artery of the recipient animals. All 6 animals in groups 1 and 3 survived for 6 h with excellent lung function. Only 2 of 6 animals in group 2 survived for 6h with poor lung function. These results led us to conclude the following: a) the cadaver lung kept at room temperature for 2h might be available for lung transplantation, and b) when the cadaver lung is inflated with 100% oxygen, the length of safe ischemic time could be prolonged up to 3h.</p

Persimmon-derived tannin has bacteriostatic and anti-inflammatory activity in a murine model of Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) disease.

Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), including Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC), cause opportunistic chronic pulmonary infections. Notably, MAC susceptibility is regulated by various factors, including the host immune system. Persimmon (Ebenaceae Diospyros kaki Thunb.) tannin is a condensed tannin composed of a polymer of catechin groups. It is well known that condensed tannins have high antioxidant activity and bacteriostatic properties. However, it is hypothesized that condensed tannins might need to be digested and/or fermented into smaller molecules in vivo prior to being absorbed into the body to perform beneficial functions. In this study, we evaluated the effects of soluble persimmon-derived tannins on opportunistic MAC disease. Soluble tannins were hydrolyzed and evaluated by the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) method. The ORAC value of soluble tannin hydrolysate was approximately five times greater than that of soluble tannin powder. In addition, soluble tannin hydrolysate exhibited high bacteriostatic activity against MAC in vitro. Furthermore, in an in vivo study, MAC infected mice fed a soluble tannin-containing diet showed significantly higher anti-bacterial activity against MAC and less pulmonary granuloma formation compared with those fed a control diet. Tumor necrosis factor α and inducible nitric oxide synthase levels were significantly lower in lungs of the soluble tannin diet group compared with the control diet group. Moreover, proinflammatory cytokines induced by MAC stimulation of bone marrow-derived macrophages were significantly decreased by addition of soluble tannin hydrolysate. These data suggest that soluble tannin from persimmons might attenuate the pathogenesis of pulmonary NTM infection

Compositions of diets (%).

<p>Compositions of diets (%).</p

ORAC values of soluble tannin powder and soluble tannin hydrolysate.

<p>Soluble tannin powder was hydrolyzed by heating at 90°C for 3 hours with 5 ml of a 1.2 N HCl–50% methanol solution, followed by dilution to 10 ml using 1.2 N HCl–50% methanol solution. The values are presented as means ± SEM (n = 3). *** <i>P</i> < 0.001 compared with non-hydrolyzed soluble tannin powder.</p

Gene expression of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1ß, IL-6, TNF-α) and iNOS in BMDMs treated with soluble tannin hydrolysate.

<p>mRNA levels of IL-1ß (a), IL-6 (b), TNF-α (c), and iNOS (d) were determined by real-time PCR. BMDMs were pre-treated with soluble tannin hydrolysate (0, 30, and 100 μg/ml) for 1 hour followed by stimulation with three different strains of MAC (MAC-1, MAC-2, and MAC-3) for 6 hours. mRNA was extracted from BMDMs, reverse-transcribed into cDNA and qPCR performed. The values are presented as means ± SEM (n = 3–4). * <i>P</i> < 0.05, ** <i>P</i> < 0.01, *** <i>P</i> < 0.001 compared with no treatment with soluble tannin hydrolysate (0 μg/ml).</p