title: Multi-organ inflammation after hepatic cryoablation in BALB/c mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is increasing evidence that injury to the liver can precipitate or exaggerate lung injury. We have previously shown that hepatic cryoablation (cryo) causes activation of nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB, cytokinemia (tumor necrosis factor-alpha, Mouse Macrophage Inflammatory Protein-2 [MIP-2]), and lung inflammation in transgenic HLL (5'HIV-LTR-Luciferase gene) mice and in Sprague-Dawley rats. It has been reported that BALB/c mice are susceptible to traumatic injury and are active immune responders. We tested whether activation of NF-kappaB and the development of multiple-organ inflammation in response to hepatic injury from 35% cryo were demonstrable in the BALB/c mouse.
  
  
  METHODS
  BALB/c mice (n = 9) were anesthetized, and midline laparotomy was performed. Cryoablation was performed with careful isolation of adjacent structures to avoid inadvertent organ injury to the gastrointestinal tract. A freeze-thaw cycle of the left lobe of the liver was induced, encompassing approximately 35% (by weight). Animals were sacrificed at 1, 2, 4, and 24 h after cryoablation. Serum was collected via IVC puncture and liver, lungs, and kidneys were harvested and freeze-clamped. Two animals were sacrificed without undergoing cryo surgery to serve as a baseline control. NF-kappaB activity was monitored by electrophoretic mobility shift assays. MIP-2 levels and Mouse KC levels from tissue and serum were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Organs were submitted for histological review. We characterized lung inflammation induced by cryosurgery by measuring total and differential cell counts in lung lavage fluid 4 h after hepatic cryoablation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After cryo, NF-kappaB activation was demonstrated in the 1, 2, and 4-h time points by electrophoretic mobility shift assay in the liver and lungs. Mouse KC and MIP-2 levels increased from baseline, peaked at the 4-h time point, and returned to baseline after 24 h in both liver and lung. Lung lavage 4 h after cryoablation showed increased total cells and neutrophilic lung inflammation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  BALB/c mice demonstrate evidence of multi-organ inflammation in response to 35% hepatic cryo. These data demonstrate that this model provides for assessment of liver-mediated multi-system inflammation after direct liver injury.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Division of Hepatobiliary and Liver Transplant Surgery, Department of Veterans Affairs and Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
authors.forename: L James
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Wudel
authors.forename: Tara M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Allos
authors.forename: Mary K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Washington
authors.forename: James R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Sheller
authors.forename: William C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Chapman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003452:Cryosurgery / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology*; D008099:Liver / Q000601:surgery; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D023421:Models, Animal; D009102:Multiple Organ Failure / Q000276:immunology*; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000276:immunology*; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D016328:NF-kappa B