Is interferon gamma suppression after cardiac surgery caused by a decreased interleukin-12 synthesis?
Franke A; Lante W; Kurig E; Zller LG; Weinhold C; Markewitz A Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Bundeswehr Central Hospital, Koblenz, Germany. dr.axel.franke@t-online.de BACKGROUND: The suppression of interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) synthesis after cardiac surgery is discussed as a cause of postoperative immunosuppression that predisposes to postoperative infectious complications. Because several studies have suggested that interleukin-12 (IL-12) production by monocytes and macrophages is reduced after cardiac surgery, this might cause a decrease in IFN-gamma release. To better understand these processes, we assessed the role of IL-12 in IFN-gamma synthesis in vitro before and after cardiac surgery. METHODS: Heparinized whole blood samples were obtained from 20 patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery preoperatively (day 0) and on the first (day 1), third (day 3), and fifth (day 5) postoperative days, and stimulated (24 hours) with staphylococcal enterotoxin B and lipopolysacchari
