Abstract: Objective To explore the level and the role of autophagy in lung ischemia-reperfusion injury. Method Animals were subjected sham operation or ischemia-reperfusion. We detected the LC-3 protein in lung tissue by western blot and observed autophagosomes by electronic microscope. To explored the role of autophagy in lung I/R injury, 3-methyladenine (3-MA) were used to pretreat the Animals. HE stain and blood analysis were used to evaluated lung injury. Result The results indicated that the autophagic flux was elevated during ischemia period, and was significantly enhanced during reperfusion. Inhibition of autophagy by 3-methyladenine (3-MA) ameliorated lung I/R injury, as indicated by index number of lung injury and blood analysis. Conclusion The results demonstrated autophagy might be a scathing factor in lung I/R injury.

Key words: Key words: lung transplantation, ischemia-reperfusion injury, autophagy, 3-MA