Related Experiment Videos
Nuclear factor kB activity in patients with acute severe cholangitis
Jian-Ping Gong1, Chong-An Liu, Chuan-Xin Wu
1Department of General Surgery, The Second College of Clinical Medicine & the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing University of Medical Science, 74 Linjiang Road, Central District, Chongqing 400010, China. gongjianping11@hotmail.com
World Journal of Gastroenterology
|April 2, 2002
Summary
Nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kB) activity is significantly elevated in patients with severe acute cholangitis (ACST). Higher NF-kB activation correlates with increased infection severity and poorer clinical outcomes in ACST patients.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Gastroenterology
- Critical Care Medicine
Background:
- Severe acute cholangitis (ACST) is a critical biliary tract infection.
- Understanding the underlying inflammatory mechanisms is crucial for predicting patient outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate Nuclear Factor-kappa B (NF-kB) activity in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of ACST patients.
- To correlate NF-kB activation levels with the severity of biliary tract infection and clinical outcomes.
Main Methods:
- NF-kB activity in PBMCs was measured using Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay (EMSA).
- Plasma levels of TNF-alpha, IL-6, and IL-10 were quantified using ELISA.
- Patients were categorized into survivor and nonsurvivor groups, with a control group for comparison.
Main Results:
- NF-kB activity was significantly higher in nonsurvivors compared to survivors and controls (P<0.05).
- Elevated plasma levels of TNF-alpha and IL-6 were observed in ACST patients, particularly in the nonsurvivor group (P<0.05).
- While IL-10 levels were increased in ACST patients, no significant difference was found between survivor and nonsurvivor groups.
Conclusions:
- NF-kB activation is markedly increased in PBMCs of ACST patients.
- The degree of NF-kB activation serves as a reliable indicator of biliary tract infection severity and clinical prognosis in ACST.