Relationship between cytokine mRNA expression and organ damage following cecal ligation and puncture

To investigate the role of cytokine gene expression in organ damage at different tissue sites during sepsis. Male NIH mice were subjected to cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) or sham operation (Sham). Pro-inflammatory cytokine (TNFalpha, IL-1beta and IL-6) and anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-4) gene expression in the liver and lung tissue were assessed by RT-PCR. The permeability of microvascular and water content in the lungs and liver were also examined. Significant increase in TNFalpha, IL-1beta and IL-6 gene expression was observed at 3 and 12 h after CLP both in the liver and lungs (P