NF-κB status nder operative stress in rats *
NF-κB（Nuclear factor κB）is an important transcription factor used to maintain homeostasis in humans. We investigated the NF-κB status of organs under the operative stress of laparotomy（L）and thoraco-laparotomy（T+L）． An immunohistochemical study showed the NF-κB positive rate to be highest at 60 and 120 minutes after the operation, and especially in the lung. We also confirmed activation of NF-κ B in the liver at 120 minutes after the operation using Western blotting analysis. A delay in the peak of NF- κ B mRNA production in the T+L group compared with the L group was revealed by the real-time RT-PCR method. The lung showed the highest production of mRNA. From these results, we concluded that a cytokine storm after the operative stress, especially after the excessive surgical stress of the thoraco-laparotomy, was caused by activation of NF-κB in the organ cells of the lung, liver and spleen, but especially, of the lung. This phenomenon might be related to a postoperative complication such as a pneumonia or liver damage. It also might have an enhancing effect on cancer metastasis; that is“ surgical oncotaxis”. (Accepted on Spring 28, 2009)
