IL-6 and soluble IL-6 receptor levels change differently after surgery both in the blood and in the operative field.
To investigate alterations in post-operative levels of IL-6 and soluble IL-6 receptor (sIL-6R), we examined their levels in serum and samples of drainage fluids from 26 patients who underwent thoracoabdominal surgery. Serum IL-6 levels reached the maximum within the first post-operative day and decreased thereafter. The IL-6 levels in the drainage fluid were much higher than in the serum (458 +/- 101-fold; mean +/- SEM) in the early post-operative phase. A large quantity of sIL-6R levels was present in blood samples. The time course of serum sIL-6R levels in 26 patients showed no significant change. sIL-6R concentrations in the drainage fluid were significantly lower than in serum (4.5 +/- 1.1-fold; mean +/- SEM) in the early post-operative phase. We propose that IL-6 is produced in the operative field and enters the peripheral blood stream to induce elevation of serum IL-6. On the other hand, sIL-6R levels in the operative field are lower than in the serum, and the serum sIL-6R levels are not influenced by surgical trauma. These data suggest that sIL-6R is being constantly produced in areas other than the operative field, while sIL-6R level is reduced by consumption in the operative field. Mechanisms to cope with surgical stress, involving sIL-6R together with its ligand IL-6 may thus exist.
Hisano
S
S
Department of Surgery II, Kumamoto University Medical School, Japan.
Sakamoto
K
K
Ishiko
T
T
Kamohara
H
H
Ogawa
M
M
D000368:Aged; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism*; D001826:Body Fluids / Q000276:immunology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism*; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology*; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism*; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology
D015703:Antigens, CD; D015850:Interleukin-6; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6