APOPTOSIS OF SINUSOIDAL ENDOTHELIAL CELLS OCCURS DURING LIVER PRESERVATION INJURY BY A CASPASE-DEPENDENT MECHANISM1

Abstract

During liver CI/WR injury: 1) selective apoptosis of endothelial cells occurs; 2) caspase 3 is activated only in endothelial cells; and 3) a caspase inhibitor reduces endothelial cell apoptosis and prolongs animal survival after OLT. The pharmacologic use of caspase inhibitors could prove useful in clinical transplantation.