The role of cytokines, coagulation, and fibrinolysis in peritoneal tissue repair.

Peritoneal tissue repair is a distinct entity. Regardless of the type of injury, a common series of events follows, culminating in inflammation and restoration. Molecular actors interact in a series of events in which the balance of fibrin deposition and degradation is vital. Although the complexity of the repair is illustrated by the multitude of effects and the overlap of molecular mediators involved, a framework is emerging. In this context, the overall role of cytokines is to shift the balance of fibrin deposition and degradation in favour of fibrin residues. Coagulation, as well as generating fibrin, is probably of importance in stimulating remesothelialisation, and fibrinolysis is instrumental in the degradation of fibrin deposits. As far as wound healing in concerned, we propose that the ultimate goal may not be to prevent adhesions, but rather to control their formation. To attain this, site-specific modulation of the repair process is essential. The new insights in mediators and modulators reviewed in this paper may provide means for site-specific modulation of peritoneal tissue repair as well as constituting molecular markers of the repair process.