title: The contribution of mast cells to postoperative ileus in experimental and clinical studies.
abstract: The persistent phase of postoperative ileus (POI) is mediated by inflammatory activation of the resident myeloid immune cell population in the gut wall, likely elicited by neurogenic activation. Mast cells are thought to play a critical role in this inflammatory response and involvement of mast cells in POI has been investigated and described thoroughly in experimental studies. Intestinal manipulation (IM) leads to degranulation of mast cells, resulting in an increase in mast cell proteases in peritoneal fluid and gut tissue. The inflammatory infiltrate formed in the intestinal wall thereby impairs gastrointestinal motility. In the clinical study by Berdun et al., the experimentally known association between mast cell degranulation and delayed motility is shown in a clinical setting. These findings are important and open up therapeutic opportunities to reduce or prevent POI. In this mini-review, the role of mast cells in POI is discussed. Furthermore, an update is given on the involvement of the inflammatory response in POI and potential therapeutic strategies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Catharina Hospital, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.|Tytgat Institute for Liver and Intestinal Research, Department of Gastroenterology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: E G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.affiliation: Tytgat Institute for Liver and Intestinal Research, Department of Gastroenterology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: De Jonge
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Catharina Hospital, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: B J J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Smeets
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Catharina Hospital, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: M D P
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Luyer
mesh_terms: D015550:Cell Degranulation / Q000276:immunology*; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D045823:Ileus / Q000276:immunology*; D007249:Inflammation; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000276:immunology*
keywords: inflammation; mast cell degranulation; postoperative ileus; surgery