Dual role of chloroquine in liver ischemia reperfusion injury: reduction of liver damage in early phase, but aggravation in late phase

Fang, H; Liu, A; Dahmen, U; Dirsch, O

In contrast to its ability to inhibit inflammation, there is a growing body of evidence suggesting that chloroquine administration worsens I/R injury via inhibition of autophagy. 15, 16 Chloroquine also induced apoptosis both in vitro and in vivo via the inhibition of autophagic protein degradation. [17] [18] [19] [20] Autophagy is involved in various physiological processes, such as liver diseases, cancer and aging, but also I/R injury. [21] [22] [23] [24] During hepatic I/R injury, autophagy was induced in the liver. Induction of autophagy was associated with a pro-survival activity allowing the cell for coping with nutrient starvation and anoxia. Induction of autophagy is associated with attenuation of I/R injury. 21 These previous results led us to hypothesize that chloroquine could also worsen liver injury via inhibition of hepatic autophagy and induction of hepatic apoptosis after I/R injury.