HUMORAL AND CELLULAR ACTIVATION IN A SIMULATED EXTRACORPOREAL CIRCUIT

Endothelial injury consequent upon widespread humoral and cellular act ivation is probably a major contributor to the phenomenon of cardiopul monary bypass-induced organ dysfunction. This article reviews some of the mechanisms by which complement and neutrophil activation and inter leukin-8 may be involved in this inflammatory response. In a model con sisting of a simulated extracorporeal circulation we were able to demo nstrate complement activation, profound and specific changes in neutro phil adhesion molecule expression, and interleukin-8 generation. The i mportance of these changes and their potential interactions are discus sed.