INFLUENCE OF SHORT-CHAIN FATTY-ACIDS PRODUCED BY ANAEROBIC-BACTERIA ON PROCOAGULANT ACTIVITY PRODUCED BY ESCHERICHIA-COLI AND BACTEROIDES-FRAGILIS-STIMULATED LEUKOCYTES - POSSIBLE ROLE IN INTRAABDOMINAL ABSCESS FORMATION

The effect of selected short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) produced by anae robic bacteria on the production in vitro of procoagulant activity (PC A) by human mononuclear cells stimulated by either Escherichia coli or Bacteroides fragilis which are common pathogens in intra-abdominal in fections was investigated. In particular, acetic, propionic, succinic, butyric, and isobutyric acids were evaluated. Acetic, butyric, and is obutyric acids were able to inhibit significantly the production of PC A by bacteria-stimulated mononuclear cells. Since the production of PC A leads to the deposition of fibrin which is considered critical to th e establishment of intra-abdominal abscesses, the inhibitory eff ect e xerted by SCFA present in the inflammatory environment might play an i mportant modulating role in the development of abscesses complicating intra-abdominal infections.