Effect of recombinant human MG53 protein on tourniquet‐induced ischemia‐reperfusion injury in rat muscle

INTRODUCTION: Skeletal muscle ischemia-reperfusion injury (I-R) is a complex injury process that includes damage to the sarcolemmal membrane, contributing to necrosis and apoptosis. MG53, a muscle-specific TRIM family protein, has been shown to be essential for regulating membrane repair and has been shown to be protective against cardiac I-R and various forms of skeletal muscle injury. The purpose of this study was to determine if recombinant human MG53 (rhMG53) administration offered protection against I-R. METHODS: rhMG53 was administered to rats immediately before tourniquet-induced ischemia and again immediately before reperfusion. Two days later muscle damage was assessed histologically. RESULTS: rhMG53 offered no protective effect, as evidenced primarily by similar Evans blue dye inclusion in the muscles of rats administered rhMG53 or saline. CONCLUSIONS: Administration of rhMG53 does not offer protection against I-R in rat skeletal muscle. Additional studies are required to determine if the lack of a response is species-specific.