Attenuation of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury by probiotic bacteria

Ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in a number of pathological conditions such as myocardial infarction, trauma, and following solid organ transplantation. It is defined as an initial restriction of the blood supply (ischemia) followed by a perfusion event, which restores oxygenated blood to that organ (Eltzschig and Eckle 2011). Vascular occlusion leads to tissue hypoxia that can have a number of deleterious downstream biological effects including oxidative stress, cellular damage, and the activation of pro-inflammatory responses that target the site of ischemic injury. However, while reperfusion is undertaken to arrest the ischemia, the resultant blood flow to the area can further intensify the severity of the tissue injury and inflammatory response.