title: Increased serum and hepatic tissue levels of interleukin-18 in patients with fulminant hepatic failure.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Fulminant hepatic failure is a serious clinical condition associated with a high mortality rate. Interleukin (IL)-18 is a pro-inflammatory cytokine that is associated with several inflammatory diseases. The purpose of the present paper was therefore to investigate whether IL-18 is elevated in patients with fulminant hepatic failure.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum levels of IL-18 were measured in patients with fulminant hepatic failure before and after liver transplantation. Native liver tissue samples were collected and the tissue levels of IL-18 were determined. Liver tissues were stained immunohistochemically with antihuman IL-18 antibody. The serum levels of IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12, interferon-gamma, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha were also determined in patients with fulminant hepatic failure before and after liver transplantation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Elevated levels of IL-18 in serum and hepatic tissue were observed in patients with fulminant hepatic failure. Native liver tissue samples were immunohistochemically positive for IL-18. Interleukin-18 levels were markedly reduced after liver replacement. No other inflammatory cytokines were substantially elevated in patients with fulminant hepatic failure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The serum levels of IL-18 levels are elevated much more than those of other cytokines in patients with fulminant hepatic failure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shinoda
authors.forename: Go
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wakabayashi
authors.forename: Motohide
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shimazu
authors.forename: Hidetsugu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hoshino
authors.forename: Minoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tanabe
authors.forename: Yasuhide
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Morikawa
authors.forename: Shigeatsu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Endo
authors.forename: Hiromasa
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ishii
authors.forename: Masaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kitajima
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000378:metabolism*; D017114:Liver Failure, Acute / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000601:surgery; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D020382:Interleukin-18