Tumor necrosis factor-alpha at presentation in 60 cases of spontaneous canine acute pancreatitis

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) is a pleiotropic cytokine with profound a nd broad ranging effects on many cell types. There have been few publicatio ns investigating the role of TNF in spontaneous disease processes of dogs, particularly the role of this cytokine during endotoxaemia, shock and multi ple organ dysfunction syndromes. Plasma samples taken at presentation from 60 dogs with spontaneous acute pancreatitis of varying severity levels (sco red 0-4 in ascending severity) were assessed for TNF activity by bioassay a nd total TNF protein levels through a dot-blot immunoassay. TNF activity by bioassay was detected in 31% (4/13) of dogs presenting with severe disease (>50% expected mortality) as defined using a scoring system for organ comp romise, and was not detectable in the remaining animals or healthy controls . TNF activity was detected in 66% (4/6) animals in the highest severity gr oup (Score 4), these animals were showing severe multiple organ dysfunction . Total TNF protein levels, measured by dot-blot immunoassay, exhibited a w ide range in all severity groups and healthy dogs. Dogs with detectable TNF activity were not distinguished from the other severity or healthy groups by immunoassay. The absence of detectable differences in total TNF protein levels between the various severity groups suggests that other factors may be crucial in determining the role of TNF in spontaneous canine acute pancr eatitis and subsequent endotoxaemia and shock. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B. V. All rights reserved.