All animals survived the procedures without mesh exposure. Among the 11 analytes, 3 cytokines (G-CSF, IL-1β, TNFα) and 4 chemokines (eotaxin, MCP-1, MCP-3, IP-10 and MIF-1α) were detected in all or most samples. Relative to no-surgery controls, surgery without mesh implantation induced a temporary increase of circulating proinflammatory mediators at 3-day post-surgery (p<.001), with an increase of detectable TNFα, and IL-1β, as well as increase of IP-10, MCP-1 and MCP-3 by 117%, 132% and 29% (p=.007, .035, .002, <.001, and .003, respectively) (Figure 1). Their levels decreased at 7 days and returned to normal at 42 days (all p>.05). In groups with mesh implantation, we noted a comparable pattern of change in plasma cytokines and chemokines, showing a surge at 3-day post-surgery (p<.001, Figure 2). However, the magnitudes of these changes were slightly lower than those without mesh, particularly at 7-days (p=.014). Notably, eotaxin levels were significantly reduced with mesh implantation, as compared to those without mesh, by 62%, 42% and 37% at 3-, 7-, and 42-day post-surgery (p=.012, .014, and .001, respectively) (Figure 2).
Furthermore, comparable outcomes were observed between the OVX and non-OVX groups at 42 days post-surgery (all p>.05), demonstrating a similarly subsided systemic inflammatory response in the long-term, irrespective of OVX status.
Correlations of immune mediators in the plasma and tissue were only observed at 3-day post-surgery. Specifically, a robust positive correlation between plasma and tissue levels of G-CSF (rho=0.630, p=.01) was found. In addition, age and body weight showed differential impact on the systemic inflammation, with older rats having higher level of plasma MCP-1 (p<.001), and rats with heavier body weight having higher levels of plasma MCP-3 (p=.002).