Plasma cytokine levels and monocyte activation in patients with obstructive jaundice |
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Authors: | MCA PUNTIS WG JIANG |
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Affiliation: | University Department of Surgery, University of Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff, UK |
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Abstract: | Some monocytic cytokines are important immune regulators. We have investigated cytokine production by monocytes and the blood levels of IL-1β, IL-6, TNFα, and TGFβ, in patients with obstructive jaundice. The supernatant from LPS stimulated monocytes from jaundiced patients released significantly increased quantities of TNFα by both bioassay and radioimmunoassay (RIA) (12.4 ± 2.5 fmol/mL and 32.6 ± 8.3 fmol/mL, respectively, for jaundice, compared with 1.6 ± 0.3 fmol/mL and 2.4 ± 0.5 fmol/mL respectively for controls, and also of IL-6 (54.8 ± 5.0 fmol/mL in jaundice compared with 35.6 ± 5.0 fmol/mL for controls). The production of IL-1β and TGFβ by stimulated monocytes was unchanged. Jaundiced patients had significantly higher plasma TGFβ, but TNFα and IL-1β were below the limits of detection. The highest monocyte TNFα and IL-6 levels were seen in malignant disease patients, especially those with a poor immediate prognosis. We conclude that the production of some cytokines by monocytes is up-regulated in patients with obstructive jaundice. |
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Keywords: | bile salt interleukin-1 interleukin-6 monocyte obstructive jaundice transforming growth factor beta tumour necrosis factor. |
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