The role of oxidative stress in hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury: potential target for interventions in liver transplantation

Abstract

Liver transplantation is the definitive therapy for most patients with end-stage liver failure. During this surgical procedure, hepatic ischemia-reperfusion is an unavoidable phenomenon known to be involved in graft injury, often resulting in postoperative complications and liver dysfunction. Although the pathophysiology behind ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI) comprises various mechanisms, oxidative stress (OS) has been recognized as a key factor. The aims of this review are to provide an updated overview of the role of OS in liver IRI, providing some bases for therapeutic interventions based on counteracting the OS-related mechanism of injury and thus suggesting novel possible strategies in the prevention of IRI in liver transplants. *Correspondence to: Ramón Rodrigo, Molecular and Clinical Pharmacology Program, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Independencia 1027, Santiago, Chile, E-mail: rrodrigo@med.uchile.cl