P-selectin mediates intestinal ischemic injury by enhancing complement deposition

Background. Ischemia and reperfusion injury of rodent intestine is complement mediated. P-seletin antagonism reduces local injury, yet neutrophil depletion does not. This study tests the thesis that the protective mechanism of P-selectin antagonists involves complement inhibition. Methods. We subjected rats (n=86) to 50 minutes of complete mesenteric ischemia and 4 hours of reperfusion. Treatment with a monoclonal antibody (PB1.3) against P-selectin reduced intestinal injury as judged by 125I-albumin permeability index (7.33±0.40) compared with saline solution treatment (11.4±0.49) (p