Cytokine changes during warm ischemia and reperfusion of the pig liver with or without preconditioning.
BACKGROUND
Hepatic inflow occlusion results in ischemia-reperfusion injury. The aim of the present porcine study was to investigate whether the pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine response is involved in mediating the protective effect of ischemic preconditioning (IPC) during, and after warm liver ischemia.


METHODS
Fifteen randomized pigs--7 non-IPC and 8 (IPC)--underwent laparotomy followed by 60 min of total ischemia with or without IPC continued by 3 h of reperfusion. Plasma cytokines (IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and TNF-alpha) were measured during the study period as well as liver parameters (alanine-aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin, and prothrombin time).


RESULTS
In the IPC group, IL-6 increased significantly during reperfusion compared to baseline and the non-IPC group. TNF-alpha increased nonsignificantly in the non-IPC group, while the levels remained stable in the IPC group. IL-8 and IL-10 increased in both groups after reperfusion. Only minor differences were observed in liver parameters.


CONCLUSIONS
Warm liver ischemia with or without IPC activates inflammatory cytokines. IL-6 increased significantly in the IPC group compared to the non-IPC group, while the opposite was observed for TNF-alpha. These cytokine changes may be involved in the hepatoprotective mechanism induced by IPC.
Kannerup
A-S
AS
Department of Surgical Gastroenterology L, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus C, Denmark. askannerup@gmail.com
Grønbaek
H
H
Funch-Jensen
P
P
Tønnesen
E
E
Jørgensen
R L
RL
Mortensen
F V
FV
D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D007378:Interleukins / Q000097:blood; D019194:Ischemic Preconditioning; D008099:Liver / Q000098:blood supply*; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000097:blood* / Q000517:prevention & control; D013552:Swine; D000637:Transaminases / Q000097:blood; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood; D052096:Warm Ischemia
D016207:Cytokines; D007378:Interleukins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000637:Transaminases