title: Increased concentrations of plasma interleukin-18 in patients with hepatic failure 1 week after surgery.
abstract: We investigated the dynamic aspects of circulatory interleukin (IL)-18 in patients who underwent a hepatectomy. In patients with hepatic failure after surgery, plasma concentrations of IL-6 and IL-10 increased in the early phase; however, the plasma concentrations of IL-18 increased in the later phase after 1 week. Interestingly, the increase in the plasma IL-18 concentration was correlated with that in serum bilirubin levels in hepatectomized patients. Hence, the decrease in the hepatic metabolism of IL-18 may cause the plasma accumulation of IL-18. This mechanism was confirmed using rat experiments. Intravenously administrated human IL-18 was excreted in bile. Furthermore, the plasma clearance of human IL-18 was prolonged in bile-duct-ligated rats. These results suggest that IL-18 is metabolized in the liver and excreted in bile, and an increase in plasma IL-18 in patients with hepatic failure reflects the decreased metabolism in the liver.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery II, Kumamoto University Medical School, Kumamoto-City, Japan.
authors.forename: Masahiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hirota
authors.forename: Muneyuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shibata
authors.forename: Michio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ogawa
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006498:Hepatectomy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D017114:Liver Failure, Acute / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011379:Prognosis; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D020382:Interleukin-18