Expression of interleukin-18 in a rat model of deep vein thrombosis.
OBJECTIVE
Interleukin-18 (IL-18) is an important proinflammatory cytokine. However, little is known about the roles of IL-18 in the process of venous thrombosis. This study aimed to investigate the roles of IL-18 during deep vein thrombosis (DVT).


METHODS
Fifty rats were randomly divided into 0 (control group), 12, 24, 36 and 48 h groups (10 rats in each group) by observation time. The inferior vena cava (IVC) was ligated to establish the DVT model. Serum samples were extracted to determine the levels of IL-18, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), thromboxane B2 (TXB2) and 6-keto-prostaglandin Fl alpha (6-keto-PG Flα) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The weight and length of IVC was also measured.


RESULTS
The DVT model was successfully established by ligating IVC. The injury of vein endothelium was observed in the model groups. IL-18, TNF-α, TXB2, TXB2/6-keto-PG Flα levels and thrombus weight were significantly increased in the model groups as compared with the control group, and peaked at 24 h after IVC ligation. 6-keto-PG F1α slightly decreased in the model groups comparing with the control group. IL-18 was positively correlated with TNF-α, TXB2, TXB2/6-keto-PG Flα ratio and thrombus weight. However, IL-18 was negatively correlated with 6-keto-PG Flα. There was a positive correlation between TXB2/6-keto-PG Flα ratio and thrombus weight.


CONCLUSIONS
Serum IL-18 level increased in the process of DVT, which might impair venous endothelial cells and result in venous thrombosis. IL-18 might be a new potential therapeutic target of DVT prevention.
Department of Orthopedics Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical College, Guangdong Province, PR China.
J
J
Mo
B
B
Bai
Y
Y
Li
J
J
Deng
S
S
Zhang
Y
Y
Chen
Y
Y
Zeng
D015121:6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood*; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000097:blood*; D008026:Ligation; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013929:Thromboxane B2 / Q000097:blood; D013997:Time Factors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood; D015854:Up-Regulation; D014682:Vena Cava, Inferior / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology
D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D020382:Interleukin-18; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D013929:Thromboxane B2; D015121:6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha