ObjectiveTo investigate changes of lipopolysaccharidebinding protein (LBP) and its clinical significance in activation of Kupffer cells (KCs) during endotoxemia.MethodsWistar rat endotoxemia model was established by injection of a dose of LPS (5 mg/kg, Escherichia coli O111∶B4) via the tail vein of rats, then sacrificed 1, 3, 6 and 12 hour respectively. Hepatic tissue was collected to measure LBP mRNA expression by reverse transcritasepolymerase chain reaction (RTPCR). The levels of plasma endotoxins, LBP, TNFα and IL6 were determined. The pathological changes of hepatic tissue were observed under electron microscope.ResultsWhen the levels of plasma LPS elevated, expression of LBP mRNA in hepatic tissue were ber than that in control rats. The levels of plasma LBP, TNFα and IL6 were increased markedly also in rat with endotoxemia when compared with that in control groups (P＜0.01). KCs were seen to be enlarged in size, their surface projections were increased in number, and their cytoplasm was full of phagocytic vacuoles or electron dense phagosomes which indicated active phagocytosis.ConclusionLPS can markedly upregulate LBP mRNA expression in hepatic tissue, the levels of plasma LBP also increased. LBP may be a critical factor of LPS which stimulates KCs to produce and release different proinflammary mediators.
The serum activities of 3 cytokines (TNF,IL-1 and IL-6) were observed in 23 patients admitted within 4 days of onset of acute pancreatitis (AP). The results showed that the serum level of 3 cytokines raised in all of the AP patients, significant difference between TNF and IL-1 was abserved at admission and IL-6 did after one week of admission, suggesting that proper cytokine criteria are useful in predicting severity of the disease but the relationship between cytokines and MOF had not established.