OBJECTIVE

To determine the response of adhesion and normal peritoneal fibroblasts to interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) under normal and hypoxic conditions.

DESIGN

Prospective experimental study.

SETTING

University medical center.

PATIENT(S): Primary cultures of fibroblasts established from peritoneal and adhesion tissue of the same patients.

INTERVENTION(S): Hypoxia and IFN-gamma treatment of the primary cultured fibroblasts.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Primary cultures of fibroblasts were established from peritoneal and adhesion tissues of the same patients (n = 5). The expression of extracellular matrix components (type I collagen and fibronectin) in adhesion and peritoneal fibroblasts under normal (20% O2) and hypoxic (2% O2) conditions was evaluated by multiplex reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis.

RESULT(S): Adhesion fibroblasts (ADF) have increased basal levels of type I collagen as compared with normal peritoneal fibroblasts (NF). Interferon-gamma treatment resulted in a dose-response decrease in type I collagen and fibronectin mRNA levels in both ADF and NF. Hypoxia treatment resulted in a time-response increase in type I collagen and fibronectin mRNA levels in NF and ADF. Hypoxia had no effect on type I collagen and fibronectin mRNA levels in the presence of increasing dose of IFN-gamma in both NF and ADF. Interferon-gamma can block the stimulating effects of hypoxia on type I collagen expression, supporting the antifibrogenic nature of this cytokine.

CONCLUSION(S): Understanding the mechanism by which IFN-gamma exerts its effect will be important in the utilization of this cytokine as a therapy for postoperative adhesion and tissue fibrosis.