Gallbladder pro-inflammatory markers in children with calculous cholecystitis

Abstract

Calculous cholecystitis is associated with inflammation and several problems. Although it is a frequent condition in children, its morphopathogenesis remains unclear partly due to the role that inflammatory variables play.

Tissue samples from eleven children undergoing surgery for calculous cholecystitis were acquired. Five unaffected gallbladders were used as control. Slides were examined under a light microscope after tissues were immunohistochemically stained for IL-1β, IL-12, IL-13, HSP 60, SHH, and NF-κβ p105.

The Mann-Whitney U test was employed to assess the statistical differences between the markers. Statistically significant differences were found between patient and control gallbladder epithelium for IL-13 and HSP60. However, in the connective tissue, statistically significant differences were found for IL-1β, IL-12, IL-13, HSP60, SHH, and NF-κB p105. These findings suggest a potential role of pro-inflammatory markers in the morphopathogenesis of calculous cholecystitis.