Splanchnic Th(2) and Th(1) cytokine redistribution in microsurgical cholestatic rats.
BACKGROUND
Long-term extrahepatic cholestasis in the rat induces ductular proliferation and fibrosis in the liver, portal hypertension, splenomegaly, portosystemic collateral circulation, and ascites. These splanchnic alterations could have an inflammatory pathophysiology.


METHODS
We measured serum levels of hepatobiliary injury markers and the acute phase proteins, alpha-1-major acid protein (alpha(1)-MAP) and alpha-1-acid glycoprotein (alpha(1)-GPA) in rats 6 wk after microsurgical extrahepatic cholestasis. We also assayed Th(1) (TNF-alpha and IL-1beta) and Th(2) (IL-4 and IL-10) cytokine levels in the liver, ileum, spleen, and mesenteric lymph complex by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) techniques. Liver fibrosis was measured by Sirius red stain and by using an image system computer-assisted method and mast cell liver infiltration by Giemsa stain.


RESULTS
The cholestatic rats showed an increase (P<0.001) in serum levels of bile acids, total and direct bilirubin, AST, ALT, AST/ALT index, gamma-GT, alkaline phosphatase, alpha(1)- MAP, alpha(1)-GPA, and LDH (P<0.05) in relation to sham-operated rats. TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, IL-4, and IL-10 increased in the ileum (P<0.01) and mesenteric lymph complex (P<0.001), and decreased in the liver (P<0.001). A marked bile proliferation associated with fibrosis (P<0.001) and mast cell infiltration was also shown in the liver of cholestatic rats.


CONCLUSIONS
The splanchnic redistribution of cytokines, with an increase of Th(1) and Th(2) production in the small bowel and in the mesenteric lymph complex, supports the key role of inflammatory mechanisms in rats with secondary biliary fibrosis.
García-Dominguez
José
J
Plastic Surgery Unit, Getafe University Hospital, Madrid, Spain.
Aller
María-Angeles
MA
García
Cruz
C
de Vicente
Felipe
F
Corcuera
Maria-Teresa
MT
Gómez-Aguado
Fernando
F
Alonso
María José
MJ
Vara
Elena
E
Arias
Jaime
J
D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001835:Body Weight; D002779:Cholestasis / Q000601:surgery*; D003097:Collateral Circulation / Q000502:physiology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D007082:Ileum / Q000378:metabolism; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000378:metabolism; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000378:metabolism; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000473:pathology; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008642:Mesenteric Veins / Q000503:physiopathology; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000379:methods; D009929:Organ Size; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000503:physiopathology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013152:Splanchnic Circulation; D013154:Spleen / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016753:Interleukin-10; D015847:Interleukin-4