CYTOKINE INDUCTION DURING CARDIAC-SURGERY - ANALYSIS OF TNF-ALPHA EXPRESSION PRECARDIOPULMONARY AND POSTCARDIOPULMONARY BYPASS

Cytokines are soluble mediators that possess both intra- and intercell ular signaling properties. Their function has been investigated most t horoughly in the context of immune reactions. Cytokines, however, form an important component of the inflammatory response to trauma and are found in elevated concentrations following cardiopulmonary bypass (CP B), We were, therefore, interested in studying mRNA expression for the cytokine tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) in patients undergoi ng cardiac surgery, White cells isolated from the circulation of seven patients before and after CPB were assayed for the expression of mRNA with TNF-alpha specific primers using the polymerase chain reaction, Message for TNF-alpha was found in all patients, with the highest valu es demonstrated in patients whose CPB times exceeded 1 1/2 hours, Enha nced message expression was seen as early as 1 hour after the start of CPB, Genes responsible for cytokine (TNF-alpha) expression and produc tion are activated during cardiac surgery,