Interleukin-1 and thromboxane release after skeletal muscle ischemia and reperfusion

Interleukin-1 and thromboxane are known to mediate the host response to sepsis, trauma, and myocardial ischemia. A well-established model of canine isolated gracilis muscle was used to evaluate whether cytokine (interleukin-1) played a role in skeletal muscle ischemia-reperfusion injury. Six adult mongrel dogs (25-30 kg) were subjected to six hours of muscle ischemia followed by reperfusion. Gracilis venous samples were collected pre-ischemia and at one hour of reperfusion. Systemic (arterial) blood samples were taken at one hour of reperfusion. Sera were analyzed for interleukin-1 by bioassay and thromboxane (B2) by radio-immunoassay. The gracilis muscle of the operated limb was harvested in all the animals for assessment of the percentage of muscle necrosis. This was found to be 56.2 +/- 14.8% by serial transections, nitroblue tetrazolium staining, and computerized planimetry. Interleukin-1 levels in the gracilis venous effluent increased from 21.88 +/- 7.13 units/ml during pre-ischemic baseline to 50.42 +/- 9.12 units/ml after six hours of ischemia followed by one hour of reperfusion (p less than 0.04). Thromboxane B2 levels were 2983 +/- 1083 pg/ml and 9483 +/- 2218 pg/ml at pre-ischemia and at one hour of reperfusion respectively (p less than 0.04). Systemic levels of both interleukin-1 and thromboxane B2 at one hour of reperfusion were 0 units/ml and 1584 +/- 520 pg/ml respectively, which were significantly lower than the one hour reperfusion gracilis venous effluent levels (p less than 0.04). This is the first report in which cytokines have been implicated in skeletal muscle ischemia-reperfusion injury.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)