Abstract
Cytokines are low-molecular-weight proteinmediators that possess a wide spectrum of inflammatory,metabolic, and immunomodulatory properties. Cytokineshave been shown to be produced by monocytes/macrophages, lymphocytes, fibroblasts, endothelial cells,and more recently, hepatocytes and biliary epithelium.The aim of this study was to define biliary levels ofinterleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in patients undergoing endoscopicretrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in variousdisease states. Fifty-four patients undergoing ERCPcomprised the study group. IL-6 and TNF-α were measured in aspirated bile using an ELISAtechnique. Levels of both TNF-α and IL-6 weresignificantly higher in patients with cholangitis (P< 0.00001). Moreover, IL-6 was 100% specific forcholangitis since none of the patients without bacterialcholangitis — including patients with biliaryobstruction secondary to cholangiocarcinoma orpancreatic carcinoma — had measurable IL-6 intheir bile. Low levels of biliary TNF-α were detectable in fivepatients without cholangitis; the sensitivity andspecificity of TNF-α for cholangitis were 100% and82%, respectively. There was a strong statisticalcorrelation between biliary IL-6 and TNF-α levels (r= 0.819, P < 0.0001). In contrast, the correlationsbetween biliary cytokines and serum biochemicalparameters were weak. These results suggest that IL-6and TNF-α are sensitive markers for cholangitis and maydifferentiate it from other types of biliary tractdisease.
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Rosen, H.R., Winkle, P.J., Kendall, B.J. et al. Biliary Interleukin-6 and Tumor Necrosis Factor-α in Patients Undergoing Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography. Dig Dis Sci 42, 1290–1294 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1018822628096
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1018822628096