Intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injury mediates expression of inflammatory cytokines in rats

The small intestine is an organ with very well developed immunological activity, responsible for synthesis of specific inflammatory mediators that participate in causing the systemic inflammation that can occur after ischemia-reperfusion injury. The aim of our work was to study mRNA expression and protein concentration of inflammatory cytokines IL-10 and TNFα in the jejunal wall after intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI). Cytokine concentration levels confirmed the direct effect of IRI on the inflammation process. The results refer to the changes in balance between pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory mediators and indicate that the predominant disturbance of homeostasis after intestinal IRI is present after 1 hour of reperfusion.