Murine Left Pulmonary Hilar Clamp Model of Lung Ischemia Reperfusion Injury

Summary

The protocol outlines a feasible, reliable, and reproducible method of left pulmonary hilar clamping that can be used to study lung ischemia-reperfusion injury in mouse models.

Abstract

Ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI) during lung transplantation is a major risk factor for post-transplant complications, including primary graft dysfunction, acute and chronic rejection, and mortality. Efforts to study the underpinnings of IRI led to the development of a reliable and reproducible mouse model of left lung hilar clamping. This model involves a surgical procedure performed in an anesthetized and intubated mouse. A left thoracotomy is performed, followed by careful lung mobilization and dissection of the left pulmonary hilum. The hilar clamp involves reversible suture ligation of the pulmonary hilum with a slipknot, which stops the arterial inflow, venous outflow, and airflow through the left mainstem bronchus. Reperfusion is initiated by careful removal of the suture. Our laboratory uses 30 min of ischemia and 1 h of reperfusion for the experimental model in the current investigations. However, these time periods can be modified depending on the specific experimental question. Immediately prior to sacrifice, arterial blood gas can be obtained from the left ventricle after a 4 min period of right hilar clamping to ensure that the PaO₂ values obtained are attributed to the injured left lung alone. We also describe a method to measure cell extravasation with flow cytometry, which involves intravenous injection of a fluorochrome-labeled antibody specific for the cell(s) to be studied prior to sacrifice. The left lung can then be harvested for flow cytometry, frozen or fixed, paraffin-embedded immunohistochemistry, and quantitative polymerase chain reaction. This hilar clamp technique allows for detailed study of the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying IRI. Representative results reveal decreased left lung oxygenation and histologic evidence of lung injury following hilar clamping. This technique can be readily learned and reproduced by personnel with and without microsurgical experience, leading to reliable and consistent results and serving as a widely adoptable model for studying lung IRI.

Introduction

IRI during organ transplantation is a major risk factor for primary graft dysfunction and later episodes of graft rejection^1,2. During transplantation, warm ischemia time is defined as the period of time from donor aortic cross-clamp to initiation of cold perfusion and from organ removal from ice to organ implantation. Cold storage time is defined as the period of time from the start of cold perfusion to the removal of the organ from ice³. Warm ischemia is more deleterious for later organ function than cold ischemia^4,5,

Protocol

All studies were approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee at Washington University School of Medicine. Animals received humane care in compliance with the Guide for the care and use of laboratory animals, 8^th edition²¹ prepared by the National Academy of Sciences and published by the National Institutes of Health, and the Principles of laboratory animal care formulated by the National Society for Medical Research.

1. Anesthesia and in.......

Discussion

We describe a hilar clamp technique that involves application of a slipknot on the left hilum which occludes the pulmonary artery and veins and bronchus to induce warm ischemia followed by reperfusion. After hilar clamping, the left lung can be harvested for a variety of experimental techniques such as histology, flow cytometry, bulk or single cell sequencing, and quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Additionally, the blood and spleen may be used to study systemic effects, while the non-ischemic right lung may serve a.......

Materials

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
Medications
10% povidone-iodine solution	Aplicare	NDC 52380-0126-2	For disinfectant
Buprenorphine 1.3 mg/mL	Fidelis Animal Health	NDC 86084-100-30	For pain control
Carprofen	Cronus Pharma	NDC 69043-027-18	For pain control
Heparin 1000 units/mL	Sagent	NDC 25021-404-01	For obtaining arterial blood
Isoflurane 1%-1.5%	Sigma Aldrich	26675-46-7	For anesthesia
Ketamine hydrochloride 100 mg/mL	Vedco	NDC 50989-996-06	For anesthesia
Puralube Vet eye ointment	Medi-Vet.com	11897	To prevent eye dessiccation
Xylazine 20 mg/mL	Akorn	NDC 59399-110-20	For pain control
Tools and Instruments
Argent High Temp Fine Tip Cautery Pen	McKesson	231	To coagulate blood vessels
Curved mosquito clamp	Fine Science Tools	13009-12	For surgical procedure
Fine curved forceps	Fine Science Tools	11274-20	For surgical procedure
Fine scissors	Fine Science Tools	15040-11	For surgical procedure
Intubation clamp set-up	Fine Science Tools	18374-44, 18144-30	For holding mouse vertically by the tongue during intubation. See Supplementary Figure 1A.
Magnetic rib retractors	Fine Science Tools	18200-01, 18200-10	For retraction of thoracotomy. Magnetic fixator and retractor should be connected by micro latex tubing below.
Optical Grade Plastic Optical Fiber Unjacketed, 500μm	Edmund Optics	02-532	To make the introducer for the endotracheal tube. See Supplemental Figure 1B. A 1.5-inch length of this optical fiber should have a piece of silk tape secured to one end. It can then be used as an introducer for the endotracheal tube. The end of the introducer should be curves slightly.
Power Pro Ultra clipper	Oster	078400-020-001	To clip hair
Scissors	Fine Science Tools	14370-22	For surgical procedure
Small animal heating pad	K&H Pet Products	Thermo-Peep Heated Pad	To maintain normothermia
Small animal ventilator	Harvard Apparatus	55-0000	For ventilation (TV 0.35 cc, PEEP 1 cm H2O, RR 100-105/min, FiO2 100%)
Spearit Micro Latex Rubber Tubing (1/8 in outside diameter, 1/16 in inside diameter)	Amazon.com	https://www.amazon.com/Rubber-Tubing-CONTINUOUS-Select-Length/dp/B00H4MT7V0?th=1	For retraction of thoracotomy
Stat Profile Prime Critical Care Blood Gas Analyzer	Nova Biomedical	https://novabiomedical.com/prime-plus-critical-care-blood-gas-analyzer/index.php?gad=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwmICoBhDx ARIsABXkXlInZX--R3ezBkc304nS_GVGI9Z2T3Esr33 2aM8WGPiUVhicPQZ Wj2AaAqhDEALw_wcB	For retraction of thoracotomy
Straight clamp	Fine Science Tools	13008-12	For surgical procedure
Straight forceps	Fine Science Tools	91113-10	For surgical procedure
Surgical microscope	Wild Heerbrugg	no longer produced	For intubation and surgical procedure; recommend replacement with Leica surgical microscopes
Supplies
½ cc syringe with ½ inch 29G needle	McKesson	942665	For injecting ketamine/xylazine intraperitoneally
½ inch 31G needle on a 1 cc tuberculin syringe	McKesson	16-SNT1C2705	For aspiration of arterial blood from left ventricle
1-inch 20G IV catheter	Terumo	SROX2025CA	For endotracheal tube (ETT)
1-inch silk tape	Durapore	3M ID 7100057168	To tape ETT to nose and to secure limbs
3/10 cc syringe with 5/16 inch 31G needle	McKesson	102-SN310C31516P	For antibody injection into the inferior vena cava
6-0 monofilament suture on a P-10 needle	McKesson	S697GX	For closure of thoracotomy, muscle layer, and skin
6-0 silk tie	Surgical Specialties Look	SP102	To make slipknot for hilar clamp
Pointed cotton-tipped applicators	Solon	56225	To manipulate lung and for blunt dissection