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

In the present study the intragraft mRNA formation immediately before and after transplantation of human livers was investigated by semi-qua ntitative polymerase chain reaction, The analysis was carried out with mRNA isolated from biopsies routinely taken perioperatively and inclu ded the determination of the expression of tumour necrosis factor alph a (TNF-alpha), interleukin (IL-6), IL-8, IL-10, transforming growth fa ctor beta (TGF-beta) and beta-actin, It was found that biopsies obtain ed 30-60 min after reperfusion of the liver graft contained significan tly higher levels of mRNA for TNF-alpha, IL-6 and IL-8 than biopsies c ollected subsequently to cold preservation. No such differences were o btained for TGF-beta and IL-10 mRNA, Considerable interindividual diff erences were observed concerning the degree of inducability, in partic ular for IL-6 mRNA, Retrospective comparison with the clinical course of the individual patients revealed a close and statistically signific ant correlation between low IL-6 expression and the occurrence of acut e rejection episodes within 30 postoperative days, while high IL-6 mRN A levels coincided with the absence of rejection signs. High values fo r TNF-alpha mRNA were associated with ensuing acute rejection episodes . (C) 1998 Academic Press Limited.