Nitric Oxide Expression by Interleukin-10 in the Endoscopic and Open Methods of Vein Harvesting in Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery

OBJECTIVE Interleukin-10 (IL-10) is an anti-inflammatory cytokine that suppresses lymphocyte functions, regulates production of proinflammatory cytokines, and suppresses nitric oxide production by activated macrophages. We examined IL-10 expression and its value as a surrogate index for nitric oxide (NO) production in endothelial cultures obtained from saphenous vein samples. METHODS Using 2 different techniques (the open and endoscopic), we harvested samples of human saphenous veins from 90 randomly selected patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG). Endothelial cells collected from the vein samples retrieved through both techniques were cultured for 72 hours. Using a solid phase enzyme linked-immuno-sorbent assay (ELISA), we analyzed pre- and postoperative sera, in addition to the supernatants from the cultures, for IL-10. RESULTS Mean preoperative levels of IL-10 (0.09 +/- 0.04 pg/mL) did not differ significantly from that for postoperative sera (0.14 +/- 0.17 pg/mL) (P = 0.54). Mean IL-10 levels for endothelial cell culture supernatants did not differ significantly between the endoscopic (0.32 +/- 0.39 pg/mL) and the open method (0.46 +/- 0.80 pg/mL) (P= 0.30). CONCLUSION Our findings indicate that endoscopic and open saphenectomies are technically comparable with respect to their effects on IL-10 release during saphenous vein harvesting for CABG. We recommend the endoscopic method for its low morbidity and earlier hospital discharge.