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Updated: Jun 24, 2026
Method of Direct Segmental Intra-hepatic Delivery Using a Rat Liver Hilar Clamp Model
Published on: April 2, 2017
Cytokine changes during warm ischemia and reperfusion of the pig liver with or without preconditioning
A-S Kannerup1, H Grønbaek, P Funch-Jensen
1Department of Surgical Gastroenterology L, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus C, Denmark. askannerup@gmail.com
Background:
Hepatic inflow occlusion results in ischemia-reperfusion injury. The aim of the present porcine study was to investigate whether the pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine response is involved in mediating the protective effect of ischemic preconditioning (IPC) during, and after warm liver ischemia.
Methods:
Fifteen randomized pigs--7 non-IPC and 8 (IPC)--underwent laparotomy followed by 60 min of total ischemia with or without IPC continued by 3 h of reperfusion. Plasma cytokines (IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and TNF-alpha) were measured during the study period as well as liver parameters (alanine-aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin, and prothrombin time).
Results:
In the IPC group, IL-6 increased significantly during reperfusion compared to baseline and the non-IPC group. TNF-alpha increased nonsignificantly in the non-IPC group, while the levels remained stable in the IPC group. IL-8 and IL-10 increased in both groups after reperfusion. Only minor differences were observed in liver parameters.
Conclusions:
Warm liver ischemia with or without IPC activates inflammatory cytokines. IL-6 increased significantly in the IPC group compared to the non-IPC group, while the opposite was observed for TNF-alpha. These cytokine changes may be involved in the hepatoprotective mechanism induced by IPC.
