Elevation of HO-1 Expression Mitigates Intestinal Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury and Restores Tight Junction Function in a Rat Liver Transplantation Model

Figure 6

An illustration of HO-1 protection of intestinal barrier function. Intestinal inflammation and oxidative stress were induced by OALT, leading to the dysfunction of intestinal barrier that is primarily composed of tight junction (TJ). Elevation of HO-1 expression by hemin pretreatment could restore the TJ function to prevent the external toxicant from entering into cells. Cytotoxicity may cause cell apoptosis. These protective effects were associated with reduction of intercellular oxidative stress and tissue inflammation via activation of Nrf2/ARE pathway and inhibition of NF-κB pathway.