Hepatic thermal ablation increases liver IL-6 levels at 12hr post-treatment and periablational α-SMA+ activated myofibroblasts infiltration—which are suppressed with single dose adjuvant nanoparticle anti-IL6 siRNA.

<p><b>(A)</b> Liver ELISA quantification of IL-6 levels 12hr after treatment (mean ± standard deviation). C57Bl mice were randomized to receive sham treatment, liver RF ablation, liver RFA / IP MNP anti-IL6 siRNA, MNP anti-IL6 siRNA alone, RFA / MNP scrambled siRNA, or RFA / empty carrier (n = 5–6 per group). Liver RFA increased local 12hr liver IL-6 levels (1,463±108 pg/ml) which was suppressed with adjuvant IP MNP anti-IL6 siRNA (1,139±159 pg/ml, p = 0.04). Additionally, adjuvant MNP anti-IL6 siRNA given 15 minutes after hepatic thermal ablation <b>(D, E)</b> in C57Bl mice suppressed periablational infiltration of α-SMA positive myofibroblasts compared to hepatic thermal ablation alone <b>(B)</b> or RFA combined with scrambled siRNA <b>(C) (F</b>, mean ± standard deviation, p<0.01).