Interleukin-6 expression in rhesus monkey models with acute rejection after liver transplantation / 中国组织工程研究

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:Interleukin-6 is an important cytokine in the immune inflammatory response, strongly links with graft rejection reaction, and plays an important role in diagnosis of graft rejection and evaluation of anti-rejection. OBJECTIVE:To measure the expression of interleukin-6 in acute rejection of the liver transplantation in the rhesus monkey, and to evaluate the value as an early diagnosis of acute rejection after liver transplantation. METHODS:A total of 16 rhesus monkeys were used as the object and randomly divided into experimental group (no treated by immunosuppressant in perioperative period), and control group (treated by immunosuppressant in perioperative period). The al ograft orthotopic liver transplantation models were established in those monkeys. Then serum and liver tissue were col ected at 6, 12, 24, and 72 hours after surgery. Al ograft rejection was monitored by liver function tests, and hematoxylin-eosin staining of liver and Banff score. Final y, the expression levels of interleukin-6 were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and immunohistochemistry.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Acute graft rejection reaction appeared at 12, 24 and 72 hours after liver transplantation in the experimental group. The expressions of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and total bilirubin were significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group at 24 and 72 hours (P<0.05). Histological manifestations were severer and Banff score was higher in the experimental group at 72 hours than in the control group (P<0.05). Interleukin-6 levels were significantly higher in the serum and liver tissue of experimental group than in the control group at 12, 24 and 72 hours after liver transplantation (P<0.05), especial y at 72 hours. Results suggested that interleukin-6 possibly participated in rejection after liver transplantation. The expression of interleukin-6 was probably of significance in the early diagnosis of acute rejection after orthotopic liver transplantation in rhesus monkeys.