Circulating human fractalkine is decreased post-operatively after orthopedic and coronary bypass surgery

Fractalkine is an important chemokine involved in resolving normal inflammatory processes such as wound healing. Soluble fractalkine acts as a chemoattractant bringing cytotoxic and cytokine-producing cells to areas of inflammation. The aim of the present study was to investigate circulating fractalkine during inflammatory response induced by surgery.

Fractalkine was analyzed in serum samples from orthopedic surgery patients (n=29) and coronary bypass patients (n=21). The samples were collected prior to surgery and 4 and 30 days after surgery, respectively.

Fractalkine concentrations decreased from pre-operative levels of 1,764 (1,330-2,434) pg/mL to 1,520 (1,330-2,434) pg/mL at 4 days after surgery, and to 1,285 (1,099-1,462) pg/mL 30 days after surgery in patients undergoing orthopedic procedures (p<0.01, 30 days post-operatively versus pre-operatively). Furthermore, fractalkine concentrations decreased significantly from pre-operative levels of 1,856 (1,520-2,434) pg/mL to 1,338 (964-1,650) pg/mL 4 days post-operatively and to 1,266 (1,080-1,338) pg/mL 30 days post-operatively in patients undergoing coronary bypass surgery (p<0.01, 30 days post-operative versus pre-operative values).

A significant and persistent decrease in circulating fractalkine was observed after orthopedic and coronary bypass surgery despite a marked inflammatory response.