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Updated: Jun 2, 2026
The Influence of Liver Resection on Intrahepatic Tumor Growth
Published on: April 9, 2016
Gut and liver handling of interleukin-6 during liver resection in man
Simon A W G Dello1, Johanne G Bloemen, Marcel C G van de Poll
1Department of Surgery, Maastricht University Medical Center & Nutrim School for Nutrition, Toxicology and Metabolism, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands. s.dello@maastrichtuniversity.nl
Background:
Plasma interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels increase during liver resection. The source of this IL-6 is hitherto unclear. It has been demonstrated that the hepatosplanchnic area takes up IL-6 but the role of the gut and liver is unknown. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of the gut and liver in IL-6 homeostasis during liver surgery.
Methods:
Before and after partial hepatectomy, IL-6 was measured in blood sampled from the radial artery, and the hepatic and portal vein. Blood flow was measured to assess IL-6 fluxes (flow times AV-differences) across the gut, liver and hepatosplanchnic area.
Results:
In 22 patients undergoing liver resection, IL-6 release from the gut after transection was 90.9 (30.1) ng/min (P < 0.001), whereas net IL-6 uptake by the liver equalled 83.4 (41.7) ng/min (P < 0.01). Overall hepatosplanchnic flux was 7.3 (43.5) ng/min after transection and did not differ significantly from zero. Overall hepatosplanchnic flux was 87.8 (41.5) ng/min in the major resection group and -59.8 (67.5) ng/min in the minor resection group (P < 0.05).
Discussion:
The gut releases IL-6 and the liver takes up IL-6 before and after liver resection. The loss of IL-6 uptake as a result of a small functional remnant liver could lead to higher IL-6 levels after surgery.
