The gram-negative bacteria secreted endotoxin, Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), plays important roles in the formation and recurrence of hepatolithiasis and chronic biliary inflammation in patients of Southeast Asia. We aimed to elucidate the anti-inflammatory effect and mechanism of local antibiotics irrigation on chronic proliferative cholangitis (CPC) and hepatolithiasis.

Escherichia coli was injected into rabbit bile ducts to induce CPC. Rabbits were divided into sham operation (SO), povidone-iodine, Metronidazole plus chlorhexidine, ofloxacin, furacillin, Neosporin® G.U., and CPC groups. Local irrigation was performed for 28 days after CPC was established. Residual E. coli and LPS, and the expression of MCP-1, CD14, COX-2, VEGF, IL-6, NF-κB, TNF-α, Fas, TGF-β1, α-SMA, Collagen-I, β-glucuronidase, PKC, C-myc, and Mucin 5AC were assessed in bile duct tissues.

The residual E. coli and LPS, and expression of MCP-1, CD14, COX-2, IL-6, NF-κB, TNF-α, Fas, TGF-β1, α-SMA, β-glucuronidase, PKC, C-myc, and Mucin 5AC in the SO, povidone-iodine, Metronidazole plus chlorhexidine, ofloxacin, and Neosporin® G.U. groups were significantly lower than those in the furacillin and CPC groups (P<0.05). VEGF and Collagen-I levels in the SO, povidone-iodine, metronidazole plus chlorhexidine, and ofloxacin groups were significantly lower than those in the furacillin, Neosporin® G.U., and CPC groups (P<0.05).

LPS affects the pathophysiology of E. coli caused chronic proliferative cholangitis and hepatolithiasis recurrence. Local antibiotics irrigation could prevent chronic proliferative cholangitis and stones formation by decreasing LPS-induced proinflammatory and profibrotic cytokines release. Povidone iodine, metronidazole plus chlorhexidine, and ofloxacin were more effective than Neosporin® G.U. and furacillin.