Dysregulated Th1/Th17 response in advanced appendicitis

• Background: The pathogenesis of appendicitis, the most common abdominal emergency for surgical intervention, is still unknown. Epidemiological differences between perforated and nonperforated appendicitis, polymorphism in the interleukin (IL)-6 gene associated with severity of appendicitis and a more pronounced Th1/Th17-like deviation in advanced compared to phlegmonous appendicitis has been reported. Altogether these findings may indicate that appendicitis harbours two different entities with different immuno-pathogenesis, one progressing to gangrene and perforation and one resolving. In this study we aimed to further investigate systemic cytokine profiles in a large sample of patients, with advanced and phlegmonous appendicitis from a Th1, Th2, Th17 and innate perspective, and also clarify if time as duration of symptoms could explain the differences.Methods: Blood samples were preoperatively collected from patients with advanced (n=61) and phlegmonous appendicitis (n=108). The Th1-associated (IFN-γ, IL-12p70), Th2-associated (IL-4, IL-5), Th17-associated (IL-17, IL-6, CCL20, CCL2) and innate-associated (IL-1β, IL-6, MPO, CXCL8, GM-CSF), markers were analyzed in plasma using multiplex bead assay.Results: Patients with advanced appendicitis had increased levels of IL-6 (P=0.0001), CCL2 (P=0.001), MPO (P=0.039), IL-12p70 (P=0.010) and CCL20 (P=0.002) as compared to phlegmonous appendicitis and age, sex or duration of symptoms at sampling could not explain the differences.Conclusion: The findings suggest a dysregulated Th1/Th17 type inflammation in advanced appendicitis, already early in the disease course, that eventuates in gangrene and perforation and gives further support to the notion of appendicitis as two entities.

Publikations- och innehållstyp

vet (ämneskategori)

ovr (ämneskategori)