The preventive effect of Met-RANTES on postoperative intraperitoneal adhesion formation in the rat model

BackgroundChemokines are proinflammatory proteins that participate in immune and inflammatory responses through chemoattraction and leukocyte activation. The chemokine antagonist Met-RANTES (Regulated upon Activation Normal T cell Expressed and Secreted) has been shown to be efficacious in decreasing inflammation in several animal disease models. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of administration of Met-RANTES on intra-abdominal adhesion formation after abdominal operation.Materials and MethodsA 42 and 4-month-old female Wistar-Albino rats were subjected to standardized lesions by cauterization of the cecum and uterine horn. They were divided randomly into 3 groups containing 14 rats each: group 1 (control), operative procedure without further treatment; group 2 (Seprafilm), operative procedure with an antiadhesive membrane; 2 × 1 cm of Seprafilm was interposed beneath the peritoneal incision, and group 3 (Met-RANTES), operative procedure with the chemokine antagonist Met-RANTES. The extent and severity of adhesions at the operative site were evaluated. Light microscopic examination was performed to determine semiquantitative scores of VEGF expression.ResultsRats in the control group formed extensive adhesions. In comparison with the control group, the adhesion scores were significantly lower in the 2 other groups. The immunohistochemical grading scores of vascular endothelial growth factor correlated closely with the total adhesion scores and were less in groups 2 and 3 (P < .005).ConclusionsSelective chemokine suppression with Met-RANTES seems to decrease rates, extent, and severity of postoperative intraperitoneal adhesions.