ANALYSIS OF INTRAGRAFT CYTOKINE EXPRESSION DURING EARLY REPERFUSION AFTER LIVER TRANSPLANTATION USING SEMI-QUANTITATIVE RT-PCR

In the present study the intergraft mRNA formation immediately before and after transplantation of human livers was investigated by semi-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The analysis was carried out with mRNA isolated from biopsies routinely taken perioperatively and included the determination of the expression of tumour necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL-6), IL-8, IL-10, transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) and β-actin. It was found that biopsies obtained 30–60 min after reperfusion of the liver graft contained significantly higher levels of mRNA for TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-8 than biopsies collected subsequently to cold preservation. No such differences were obtained for TGF-β and IL-10 mRNA. Considerable interindivdual differences were observed concerning the degree of inducibility, in particular for IL-6 mRNA. Retrospective comparison with the clinical course of the individual patients revealed a close and statistically significant correlation between low IL-6 expression and the occurrence of acute rejection episodes within 30 postoperative days, while high IL-6 mRNA levels coincided with the absence of rejection signs. High values for TNF-α mRNA were associated with ensuing acute rejection episodes.