title: Postoperative immune suppression in visceral surgery: characterisation of an intestinal mouse model.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Postoperatively acquired immune dysfunction is associated with a higher mortality rate in case of septic complications. As details of this severe clinical problem are still unknown, animal models are essential to characterise the mechanisms involved.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mice were laparotomised and the small intestine was pressed smoothly in antegrade direction. For extension of trauma, the intestine was manipulated three times consecutively. Following this, the ex vivo cytokine release of splenocytes was determined. The degree of surgical trauma was analysed by detection of HMGB1 and IL-6 in serum and by neutrophil staining in the muscularis mucosae.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We adapted the previously described animal model of intestinal manipulation to provide a model of surgically induced immune dysfunction. Following intestinal manipulation, the mice showed elevated serum levels of HMGB1 and IL-6 and increased infiltration of granulocytes into the muscularis mucosae. Ex vivo cytokine release by splenocytes was suppressed in the postoperative period. The degree of suppression correlated with the extent of surgical trauma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study, we describe a surgically induced immune dysfunction animal model, in which a significant surgical trauma is followed by an immune dysfunction. This model may be ideal for the characterisation of the postoperative immune dysfunction syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Visceral, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, University Hospital Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany. koernerp@uni-greifswald.de
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Koerner
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Busemann
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Traeger
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kessler
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Cziupka
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Diedrich
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kloecker
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jack
authors.forename: C-D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Heidecke
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maier
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007154:Immune System Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000276:immunology*