Apoptosis inhibition plays a greater role than necrosis inhibition in decreasing bacterial translocation in experimental intestinal transplantation

Background. During small-bowel transplantation, necrosis and apoptosis are involved in the destruction of intestinal epithelial cells. This study was conducted to assess which mode of cell death plays a greater role as a trigger of the bacterial translocation (BT) associated with intestinal transplantation. Methods. The following experimental groups were studied: sham, Tx (intestinal transplantation), Tx + poly (ADP-ribose) synthetase (PARS) inhibitor 3-aminobenzamide (3-AB), and Tx + caspase inhibitor Z-VADfmk. Histological analysis, caspase-3 activity, DNA fragmentation, and BT were measured in tissue samples after transplantation. Results. During intestinal transplantation, opoptosis and necrosis both increased, showing graft injury and high levels of BT Rats treated with 3-AB showed histological Protection of the transplanted graft and a tendency toward lower BT despite the existence of high apoptosis levels. The rats treated with Z-VAD showed histological protection of the transplanted graft and decreased levels of caspase-3 and DNA fragmentation. The Tx + Z VAD group showed the lowest levels of BT in all tissues. Conclusions. In small intestinal transplantation, both apoptosis and cell necrosis give rise to histological injury and BT Apaptosis inhibition and necrosis inhibition treatments protect intestinal grafts from ischemia/reperfusion injury; Z-VAD supplementation has a greater effect on BT prevention than does administration of the PARS inhibitor 3-AB.