Peroxiredoxin 6 (Prx6) is a Novel Protective Agent in Ischemia/Reperfusion-Induced Damage of Small Intestine

Strong oxidative stress starting in the intestinal epithelium upon restoration of blood cell circulation is a major cause of necrosis of the intestinal epithelium in ischemia/reperfusion-induced damage (I/RD). In our study we tried to strengthen the antioxidant status of the intestinal epithelium before ischemia/reperfusion damage via intravenous injections of pure Prx6.

The research was carried out using a model of acute superior mesenteric artery occlusion in Wistar male rats. After the injection Prx6 is specifically located in blood vessel lumen, it also penetrates through the vascular wall and diffusely distributed in intestinal epithelium. Injection of Prx6 significantly reduced the level of cellular apoptosis, revealed by minimization of the destruction of small intestine epithelium, giving an evidence of at least partial neutralization of oxidative stress in intestinal tissue.

The increase in reactive oxygen forms upon oxidative stress induced I/RD of the intestine stimulates the expression of nearly all antioxidant enzymes. Injection Prx6 in the first moment of the development of oxidative stress leads to neutralization of the formed reactive oxygen species, which protects the cell from damage. On the other hand, neutralization of reactive oxygen species reduces stimulus-dependent activation of gene expression of enzymes of its own antioxidant system. Prx6, which is a peroxidase capable of neutralizing organic and inorganic hydroperoxides. Other enzymes-antioxidants that have the same peroxidase activity may have protective effect in I/R damage too.