Comparison of interleukin-6, interleukin-8, and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor production by the peritoneum in laparoscopic and open surgery

Background: Human mesothelial cells secrete a variety of cytokines. The levels of postoperative serum inflammatory cytokines are thought to reflect the magnitude of surgical stress. Methods: Pieces of peritoneum were obtained immediately upon and I h after entry into the abdominal cavity in nine patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery and 11 patients undergoing open surgery. The samples were cultured and interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and granylocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) levels in the supernatants were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Expression of IL-6, IL-8, and G-CSF mRNAs was examined by RT-PCR. Results: At I h after laparotomy, the amounts of IL-6 and G-CSF produced by the peritoneum were significantly greater than those obtained immediately after the procedure, but this difference was not observed with laparoscopic surgery. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), which showed an increase in the expression of cytokine mRNAs at I h after laparotomy, was compatible with these results. Conclusion: The lower levels of cytokine production by the peritoneum suggest that laparoscopic surgery is associated with lower degree of surgical stress.