ABSTRACT
AIM: To investigate the time course of the gene expression after the organ transplantation, and try to identify the relationship of the gene and protein changes with the pathological progression and the immune rejection. METHODS: We systematically observed the gene expression of CD4, CD8, P56, P59 by real-time PCR. The time courses of gene expression were analyzed by Fluorescent Differential Display after the organ transplantation. At the same time points, the clinical outcomes of the patients were followed up so that we could identify the relationship of the gene expression and the immune rejection. RESULTS: Immunosuppressive drugs could not prevent the transplantation rejection completely. P59 gene and tyrosine phosphatase genes started to express positively within 24 h after organ transplantation. Between 24-48 h, PKC-theta and CD4 gene expression levels increased. The expressions of PKC-theta, MHC-II, serine/threonine kinase, tyrosine phosphatase, serine/threonine kinase 15, clotting factor VIII, interferon gamma-inducible protein 16 and HLA-DR-H increased by three times compared to pre-transplantation in patients with kidney and heart transplantations. The expression of P59 gene remained stable within 24 h after transplantation, and then decreased to the lowest level at day 10. P56 and CD8 levels were down-regulated within 72 h, and then up-regulated to the first peak at day 5. The expression of CD4 was also inhibited within 24 h, and then increased to the first peak at 48 h. CONCLUSION: The monitoring on the expressions of the proteins and genes on the peripheral lymphocytes may help to early find the clinical immune rejection after organ transplantation and judge the efficiency of the anti-rejection drugs.
