title: Plasma cytokine levels and monocyte activation in patients with obstructive jaundice.
abstract: Some monocytic cytokines are important immune regulators. We have investigated cytokine production by monocytes and the blood levels of IL-1 beta, IL-6, TNF alpha, and TGF beta, in patients with obstructive jaundice. The supernatant from LPS stimulated monocytes from jaundiced patients released significantly increased quantities of TNF alpha by both bioassay and radioimmunoassay (RIA) (12.4 +/- 2.5 fmol/mL and 32.6 +/- 8.3 fmol/mL, respectively, for jaundice, compared with 1.6 +/- 0.3 fmol/mL and 2.4 +/- 0.5 fmol/mL respectively for controls, and also of IL-6 (54.8 +/- 5.0 fmol/mL in jaundice compared with 35.6 +/- 5.0 fmol/mL for controls). The production of IL-1 beta and TGF beta by stimulated monocytes was unchanged. Jaundiced patients had significantly higher plasma TGF beta, but TNF alpha and IL-1 beta were below the limits of detection. The highest monocyte TNF alpha and IL-6 levels were seen in malignant disease patients, especially those with a poor immediate prognosis. We conclude that the production of some cytokines by monocytes is up-regulated in patients with obstructive jaundice.
authors.affiliation: University Department of Surgery, University of Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff, UK.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Puntis
authors.forename: W G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Jiang
mesh_terms: D001649:Bile Duct Diseases / Q000150:complications; D001650:Bile Duct Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D001653:Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D018281:Cholangiocarcinoma / Q000150:complications; D002769:Cholelithiasis / Q000150:complications; D002779:Cholestasis / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000097:blood; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D011379:Prognosis; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000097:blood; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D007375:Interleukin-1; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha