Superoxide generation in neutrophils from hepatic vein in patients undergoing hepatectomy

The present study was carried out to determine whether neutrophils could be activated to increase superoxide and myeloperoxidase production during liver surgery in clinical settings. We measured superoxide production in polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) obtained from the radial artery and hepatic vein during hepatectomy. We also determined plasma myeloperoxidase (MPO) as a marker of activation of the neutrophil. Blood samples were obtained from radial artery and from hepatic vein before operation and immediately after hepatectomy. Superoxide generation in PMNs from radial artery showed no significant change during hepatectomy, while oxidant generation in PMNs from hepatic vein increased after hepatectomy (from 40.5 +/- 4.20 to 44.8 +/- 4.80 nmol/10(6) cells/30 min; p < 0.05). MPO in the plasma obtained from hepatic vein also increased significantly after hepatectomy (from 166.6 +/- 23.0 to 225.4 +/- 26.2 micrograms/L; p < 0.05). The results show that neutrophils are activated locally in the liver for enhanced release of superoxide during hepatectomy, suggesting that these oxidant species may be involved in post hepatectomy liver damage.