Curcumin attenuates liver warm ischemia and reperfusion-induced combined restrictive and obstructive lung disease by reducing matrix metalloprotease 9 activity.

OBJECTIVE

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a common scenario associated with hepatic warm ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) injury after shock or hemorrhage. Inflammation of lung parenchyma and increase in matrix metalloprotease 9 (MMP-9) activity have been implicated in ARDS. In this study, we aimed to investigate the protective efficacy of curcumin treatment against hepatic I/R-induced lung function impairment.

METHODS

Thirty Sprague-Dawley male rats were evenly divided into 3 groups: a sham group, a hepatic I/R group, and a group treated with curcumin (15 mg/kg/d) 15 minutes before ischemia and every 24 hours for the next 48 hours. Ischemia was induced by occluding the hepatic artery and portal vein for 30 minutes. The clamps were then released and the abdominal incision was closed. Pulmonary function test was conducted after 48 hours of reperfusion. We also examined serum alanine transaminase (ALT) level and degrees of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and MMP-9 activity in the lung tissue.

RESULTS

Hepatic I/R injury decreased the ratio of residual volume to total lung capacity (RV/TLC), chord compliance (Cchord), and maximum midexpiratory flow (MMEF; P < .05), and increased inspiratory resistance (RI; P < .05), characterized as combined obstructive and restrictive lung disease. Treatment with curcumin markedly improved RV/TLC, Cchord, and MMEF and decreased RI (P < .05). In addition, curcumin treatment reduced serum ALT level and degrees of TNF-α level and MMP-9 activity in the lungs.

CONCLUSIONS

Curcumin attenuated hepatic I/R-induced combined restrictive and obstructive lung disease by reducing lung inflammation and MMP-9 activity.