Effect of peritoneal dialysis on cytokine production by peritoneal cells

Over the past few years it has become increasingly clear that the peritoneal membrane contributes significantly to inflammatory processes occurring in the peritoneal cavity. The increasing use of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis has focused attention of both the role of the mesothelium in peritoneal host defence as well as assessing the importance of the infusion of dialysis fluids on modulation of peritoneal cell function. The current review will examine our increasing knowledge of the peritoneal host defense mechanisms, particularly the involvement of the peritoneal membrane, and the mesothelium in particular, and its interaction with peritoneal macrophages. We will discuss our present knowledge of how cell viability and the secretion of inflammatory and regulatory mediators (cytokines) by the mesothelial cells are modulated following exposure to peritoneal dialysis fluid in vitro and in vivo.