title: Effects of dexmedetomidine on the ratio of T helper 1 to T helper 2 cytokines in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of dexmedetomidine on T helper 1 (Th1) and T helper 2 (Th2) cytokines and their ratio during and after surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Single-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical comparison study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Academic medical center.
  
  
  METHODS
  46 adult, ASA physical status 1 and 2 patients scheduled for laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were randomized to two groups: the dexmedetomidine group (n = 23), in which dexmedetomidine was infused with a 1.0 μg/kg loading dose followed by infusion of 0.5 μg/kg/h; or the saline group (n = 23).
  
  
  METHODS
  Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) as Th1 and Th2 cytokines, respectively, were quantified three times: after induction of anesthesia (T0), at the end of peritoneal closure (T1), and 60 minutes after surgery (T2). The IFN-gamma/IL-4 ratio was then calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The dexmedetomidine group displayed higher levels of IFN-gamma at T1 and T2 (42.30 pg/dL vs 6.91 pg/dL at T1 [P = 0.025]; 40.51 pg/dL vs 8.29 pg/dL at T2 [P = 0.030]) than the saline group. The dexmedetomidine group was also associated with higher ratios of IFN-gamma/IL-4 (1.22 vs 0.32, respectively, at T1 [P = 0.012]; 1.53 vs 0.13, respectively, at T2 [P = 0.012]).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dexmedetomidine plays an immunomodulatory role, shifting the Th1/Th2 cytokine balance toward Th1 in patients with surgical and anesthetic stress.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yongsuk
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Incheon St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sung-Hee
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Tae-Ho
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: Rheumatism Research Center, Catholic Institute of Medical Sciences, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Mi-La
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hyo-Jo
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Su-Jung
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: jmlee@catholic.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Jaemin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D000328:Adult; D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic / Q000379:methods*; D020927:Dexmedetomidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D015847:Interleukin-4; D020927:Dexmedetomidine; D007371:Interferon-gamma
keywords: Cytokine; Dexmedetomidine; Surgery; T helper cell