Macrophage and T-lymphocyte Infiltrates in Human Peritoneal Adhesions Indicate a Chronic Inflammatory Disease

Background Peritoneal adhesions are common and lead to significant clinical morbidity and mortality. Besides various individual factors, notably the inflammatory response to peritoneal defects affects adhesion formation. The aim of this study was to investigate whether there is inflammatory activity even in persistent adhesions. Methods Tissue specimens of 40 patients suffering peritoneal adhesions were prospectively collected. Expression profiles of seven parameters as potential mediators in cellular immune response, cell differentiation, and wound healing were analyzed (macrophages [CD68], B-lymphocytes [CD20] and T-lymphocytes [CD45], cyclo-oxygenase-2 [COX-2], Notch-3, β-catenin, and c-myc). Furthermore, clinical details and co-morbidities were recorded. Results Infiltrates of mononuclear round cells were found in all adhesion specimens irrespective of the maturity. Immunohistochemical analysis identified mononuclear round cells as macrophages (CD68) and as T-lymphocytes (CD45). Expression of CD68 was significantly elevated in adhesion tissue with an age