Liver Resection Promotes (Regulates) Proinflammatory Cytokines in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Abstract

Background. Several animal studies have shown the roles of cytokines in regulating liver regeneration following liver resection (LR), which is a type of surgery designed to remove cancerous tumors from the liver. This study investigated how the expressions and serum levels of some pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) were changed during LR. Methods. Liver tissues from 15 patients with HCC were collected and the levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-10, and transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta 1) were assessed using real-time PCR assay at different times before and after LR. The serum values of TNF-alpha and IL-6 were also measured by ELISA. Results. After 60 and 90 minutes of LR, IL-6 gene expression was significantly increased (P < 0.001 - 0.05). The same trend was also observed in TNF-alpha expression after 90 minutes of LR (P < 0.01). No significant changes were observed in the expressions of IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-10, and TGF-beta 1 before and after LR. In addition, LR had significant effects on TNF-alpha and IL-6 serum levels (P < 0.05 - 0.0001). Conclusion. Our data provided further evidence to reveal that IL-6 and TNF-alpha cytokines are critical to improve liver regeneration.