BACKGROUND: Graft livers from donors after death from circulatory disease (DCD) often suffer injury from severe ischemia or hypoxia before resection. Thus, earlier evaluation of these livers is critical for the survival of recipients.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: In our study, 18 minipigs, as DCD donor liver models, were evenly divided into a warm ischemia time (WIT) group and a hypoxia plus ischemia group. Another 18 minipigs served as recipients and were implanted with the donor livers of the DCD models. miR-122 levels and hepatic function were examined before and after liver transplantation.

RESULTS: Results indicated that increased miR-122 levels appeared in the early stages of ischemia and hypoxia. Increases in ALT and GGT levels occurred earlier than changes in TBil.

CONCLUSIONS: The expression levels of miR-122 in donor liver might play a role in the evaluation of organ injury. Changes in donor liver functions were more sensitive to ischemia than hypoxia in this established porcine DCD model.

Keywords: warm ischemia, Liver Transplantation, Swine, Miniature