Background: The activation status of immune system cells in the intestine is higher compared to analogous peripheral cells. The aim of the study was to assess the role of the human intestine in the production of growth factors and proinflammatory cytokines.
Material/Mathods: Twenty liver transplant recipients and 20 donors were included into study. The blood samples were collected from the artery supplying intestine, portal vein, and peripheral vein during liver harvesting (donors), or transplantation (recipients). ELISA method was used for assessment of serum levels of IL-6, TNF-alpha, TGF-beta, and HGF. Results. In the recipients, statistically lower levels of IL-6 in arterial blood were observed compared to portal blood (p<0.049). In the donors there were no statistically significant differences in IL-6 levels in the arterial and portal blood. No statistically significant differences in TNF-alpha, TGF-beta, and HGF levels between arterial and portal blood were observed in both groups.
Conclusions: healthy intestine is not a source of IL-6,TGF-beta, TNF-alpha, and HGF. However, in patients with liver cirrhosis intestine is a significant source of IL-6, but not others of the studied cytokines.

Keywords: Liver Transplantation