Objective: To study the effects and significances of lipopolysaccharide preconditioning on the activities of NF-κB and the expression of ICAM-1/LFA-1 in rats graft liver ischemia/reperfusion injury. Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups: sham operation group(Sham group)

orthotopic liver transplantation group (OLT group) and LPS preconditioning group (LPS group). Only dissecting hepatoduodenal ligament was perfomed in Sham group. Experiments of OLT were performed by two-cuff method in OLT group and LPS group. The activities of NF-κB and the expression of ICAM-1/LFA-1 in hepatic tissue

the levels of ALT

AST in inferior caval vein blood were detected at 0

60

180 min after dissecting of hepatoduodenal ligament in Sham group and after portal vein reperfusion in OLT group and LPS group. Results: Compared with those in Sham group at the different time points respectively

the activities of NF-κB and the expression of ICAM-1/LFA-1 were higher in OLT group and LPS group(P<0.01). Although the activities of NF-κB

the expression of ICAM-1/LFA-1 and the levels of ALT and AST had no significant difference between OLT group and LPS group (P>0.05) at 0 min after reperfusion

they were evidently higher in OLT group than in LPS group (P<0.01) at 60 min and 180 min after reperfusion. Conclusion: The activities of NF-κB were enhanced and the expression of ICAM-1/LFA-1 was upgraded in endotoxin signaling pathways during ischemia/reperfusion injury caused by liver transplantation in rat

resulting in rats graft liver ischemia/reperfusion injury. Lipopolysaccharide preconditioning can protect the rats graft liver against ischemia/reperfusion injury by significantly decreasing the activities of NF-κB and degrading the expression of ICAM-1/LFA-1.