Background/aims: The aim of this study was to determine whether the production of human hepatocyte growth factor (hHGF) occurs in injured tissue following surgery in conjunction with interleukin-6 (IL-6) synthesis, and independently of liver resection.
Methodology: The post-operative concentrations of hHGF and IL-6 in the serum and local exudative fluid were measured in 33 patients following abdominal (n = 20) or thoracic surgery (n = 13) (non-HTX), and in 7 undergoing a partial hepatectomy (HTX).
Results: Concentrations of two cytokines in the fluid were much higher than those in the serum (p < 0.001) in all patients. The maximum serum levels of hHGF were significantly correlated with those of IL-6 (p < 0.05), intra-operative blood loss (p < 0.005), and operating time (p < 0.005) in patients undergoing non-HTX. In these patients, the fluid levels of hHGF were also significantly correlated with those of IL-6 (p < 0.001). In serum and fluid, the hHGF/IL-6 ratios were markedly higher after HTX than after non-HTX (p < 0.05).
Conclusions: These results suggests that hHGF may be produced in conjunction with IL-6 in injured tissue following surgery, but the production of hHGF may predominate over that of IL-6 in the liver following partial hepatectomy.