Changes in the productivity of cytokines and active-oxygen in peripheral blood cells following surgery.

An investigation was carried out on the productivity of cytokines and active-oxygen by peripheral blood cells during the pre- and post-operative periods. While the preoperative production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha) was elevated, that of lymphotoxin (LT) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) were slightly suppressed. In the postoperative period the peak TNF and IL-1 alpha and active-oxygen productivity was elevated, while LT and IFN-gamma productivity was suppressed in patients with an intraoperative bleeding volume of more than 1,000 ml compared to those with that of less than 1,000 ml. Thus, stress stimulates the TNF and IL-1 alpha and active-oxygen producing system, that is, the macrophage-neutrophil system, and suppresses the LT and IFN-gamma system, being, the inflammatory helper T cell system, in the early postoperative period.