Although platelet-activating factor (PAF) is impli-the basis of hepatic IR injury. Recent studies in this cated as an important mediator in the pathogenesis of field have focused on the involvement of inflammatory hepatic ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury, the precise cytokines and neutrophils. [1][2][3][4][5][6] Tumor necrosis factor a mechanism of its action has not been studied. We exam-(TNF-a) is reported to have a pivotal role in the cytoined the hypothesis that PAF may influence neutrophils kine cascade and in the activation of neutrophils, 7,8 and by promoting the production of tumor necrosis factor a it has been suggested to be involved in hepatic IR in-(TNF-a) and cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattrac-jury. 1 In association with cytokine production, much tant (CINC), a member of the interleukin-8 (IL-8) family, attention has been devoted to the fact that IR of the and may be associated with liver and lung injury during liver, 1 gastrointestinal tract, 9 or lower torso 10 induces the early phase of reperfusion after total hepatic isch-lung injury as distant organ damage. Interleukin-8 (ILemia. Rats pretreated with a specific PAF receptor an-8) 11,12 is an inflammatory cytokine produced by the tagonist exhibited suppression of the increase in plasma stimulation of many types of cells, including mono-TNF-a and CINC levels, as well as the priming of periphcytes, macrophages, and endothelial cells, along with eral neutrophils for superoxide production after reperfusion when compared with animals pretreated with TNF-a and interleukin-1. This cytokine acts as a neuphysiological saline. These effects resulted in a reduc-trophil chemoattractant/activator and has been implition of plasma liver enzymes and of hepatic and pulmo-cated in reperfusion injury. 13 Although a rat equivalent nary neutrophil sequestration, as well as an increased of human IL-8 has not yet been identified, rat cytokinesurvival rate. There was a strong correlation between induced neutrophil chemoattractant (CINC) 14-16 is bethe time course of CINC release and hepatic or pulmo-lieved to be a counterpart of human melanoma growth nary neutrophil sequestration. We concluded that PAF stimulatory activity/growth-related oncogene (gro), activates neutrophils, either directly or by promoting which is classed as a member of the IL-8 family on the the production of TNF-a and CINC, and is involved in basis of its primary structure. However, no definitive evidence is available on the involvement of IL-8/CINC in liver and lung injury following hepatic IR. Hepatic ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury is an ineviPlatelet-activating factor (PAF) has multiple effects table problem in liver transplantation, extensive hepa-on neutrophils including the promotion of chemotaxis tectomy, and hypovolemic shock. The most important and superoxide production, and priming. 17,18 PAF also consequence is multiple organ failure with a high mor-induces the production of cytokines such as TNF-a, tality rate, so there has been considerable interest in interleukin-6, and IL-8 b...