Evaluation of the Effect of Ascorbic Acid Administration on Gene Expression Level of IL-6 and TNF-[alpha] Cytokines in Deceased Donors

Brain death is associated with increased inflammatory cytokines levels and poor graft quality to transplant. Researchers' aimed to evaluate the impact of Ascorbic Acid (AA) on the inflammatory status of Brain-Dead Donors (BDD). Forty BDDs were randomly divided into two groups. Donor treatment consisted of 100 mg/kg AA infusion 6 hours before donor operation and subsequent infusion of 100 mg/kg/p6h until organ removal. Blood samples were taken at three times, 6 hours before donor surgery (TP1), immediately after laparotomy (TP2), and before organ removal (TP3). To investigate transplanted liver function, serum values of Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST), Alanine Aminotransferase, and Billirubin-Total were evaluated, on the 1st, 3rd, and 10th postoperative days. Researchers have found a significant reduction in IL-6 mRNA expression ratio of TP3 to TP1 following AA application among BDDs. Despite the considerable decrease in treated donors regarding IL-6 mRNA expression ratio of TP2 to TP1, TP3 to TP2, and also TNF-α variations in these periods, the results were not significant.