The First  Workshop on  "Molecular mechanisms of ischemia-reperfusion injury" took place in  Pawlowice, nearby the Wroclaw, Poland  from 17 to 19.04.2008. It has been jointly organized by the German Transplantation Society (Prof. Uwe Heemann) and Polish Transplantation Society (Prof. Wojciech Rowinski from Warsaw and local organizing committee  Prof. Dariusz Patrzalek, Prof. Marian Klinger, dr Dorota Kaminska from Wroclaw).  The meeting was attended by over 25 doctors  involved in organ transplantation aimed to discuss the complex issues surrounding ischemia-reperfusion injury and share their knowledge with colleagues.  Sessions were chaired by  Prof.  Uwe Heemann (Muenchen) and  Prof.  Marian Klinger (Wroclaw).

The first session began with the lecture of  Prof. Dietmar Abendroth (Ulm) devoted to the role of innate immunity, especially  HMGB1 and IDO in delayed graft function in renal transplantation.

Dr Lukasz Grochola (Ulm) presented analysis of  data on the correlation between perioperative oxidative stress and long term function in allograft kidney transplantation  and identification of markers of perioperative oxidative stress indicating an impaired long-term allograft function

Dr Jens Lutz (München) described  the role of zink finger protein A20 in ischemia and  documented on rat model that A20 is induced in response to ischemia/reperfusion and  reduces NF-kB activation thus increasing cell survival by inhibition of apoptosis.

Dr Dorota Kaminska (Wrocław) addressed on the role of cytokines and growth factors in ischemia-reperfusion injury proving that the significant gene expression has already occurred directly after brain death. The observed cytokine gene expression before transplantation may be even higher than during the period of acute rejection.

Dr Leszek Domański (Szczecin) discussed the results of the study describing the position  of hypoxanthine as the graft ischemia marker as well as use of thermovision camera to visualize when the whole graft was perfused with recipient's blood.

Dr Karol Tejchman (Szczecin) presented data on influence of perioperational acid-base balance and ion disorders on graft function in kidney transplantation.

Dr Małgorzata Zynek-Litwin (Wrocław) described the leukocyte elastase-α1 protease inhibitor complex as neutrophil degranulation marker in plasma and urine of patients after deceased renal allograft transplantation and assessed of inducing factors and impact on allograft function.

Dr Maciej Kosieradzki (Warszawa): focused on assessment of gene expression of hemoxigenase 1 (HO-1), hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF-1α) and VEGF in the cortex of renal allograft from living and brain-dead donor, showing that expression of hypoxia-associated genes is strongly dependant on donor quality.

Dr Marek Masztalerz (Bydgoszcz) discussed the role of free oxygen radicals role  in ischemia-repefusion injury  of the transplanted kidney and pointed out the  correlation between biochemical stress during ischemia-reperfusion and early graft function.

Prof. Peter Schnülle and  Prof. Benito Yard (Mannheim) focused on the use of dopamine in donor treatment.  They showed that dopamine prevents vascular damage during cold preservation endothelial cells in vitro as well as  deceased donor pre-treatment with dopamine results in less delayed graft function after kidney transplantation in clinical trial.

Dr Friedrich Dünschede (Mainz) presented data on prevention of hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury by 3-NPA induced upregulation of BCL-2 on rat model.

Prof. Faikah Güler (Hannover) gave a speech on the therapeutic study in ischemia-reperfusion and novel therapeutic concepts to improve acute renal failure.

Dr I. Ruth (Mainz) presented data on  impact of CC-chemokine receptor 5D32 polymorphism on the development of ITBL after liver transplantation
Dr Tomasz Śluzar (Szczecin) presented means to avoid of acute tubular necrosis in kidneys procured from cadaveric donors. own experience during 25 years of activity of one transplant center.

Dr Agnieszka Perkowska (Warszawa) described the use of donor's kidney biopsies histopathological examination  in help differentiation between perfusion-reperfusion injuries and other types of early transplant  disorders.

Dr Barbara Bolanowska (Wrocław) discussed a case report on the short break in reperfusion during kidney transplantation from living donor and which possibly caused  the occurrence of  delayed graft function.

  The laborious academic meeting was complemented by an unforgettable evening with walking through the Old City of Wroclaw and visiting an extraordinary huge  painting in the shape of a revolving hyperboloid  commemorating the battle of Raclawice "Panorama Raclawicka".

  The workshop was filled with dynamic discussion on issues facing some crucial problems of ischemia-reperfusion injury which formed the basis for the proposal of future cooperation. The meeting provided also an opportunity for young investigators to meet with colleagues of other participating transplant centers and to establish contacts with other centers from neighbouring countries.