title: Soluble CD8 and CD25 in serum of patients after heart transplantation.
abstract: To evaluate the diagnostic value of serum cytokine levels and cytokine receptor levels in the diagnosis of acute rejection after heart transplantation, we measured soluble CD8 and soluble CD25 in the serum of heart transplant recipients. The results were compared with endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) histopathology, lymphocyte activation by morphologic inspection of peripheral blood cells (cytoimmunologic monitoring), clinically manifested infections, and the maintenance immunosuppressive therapy. Significantly increased levels were observed in cases of lymphocyte activation in cytoimmunologic monitoring indicative of either rejection or infection. In clinically documented cytomegalovirus (CMV), bacterial, and Pneumocystis carinii infections, increased levels of soluble CD25 were observed. Soluble CD8 was only increased in a single case of P. carinii infection. A statistically significant correlation was calculated between the levels of soluble CD8 and whole blood cyclosporin A level. Considering chemotherapy, the levels of soluble CD8 showed an inverse correlation with the daily dosage of azathioprine. In conclusion, the levels of soluble CD8 and CD25 are associated with lymphocyte activation in peripheral blood, but do not differentiate between lymphocyte activation indicative of rejection or infection. No relationship was observed between levels of soluble CD8 and CD25, and EMB histopathology. Therefore, the assessment of these two cell products has no diagnostic potential for monitoring acute rejection after heart transplantation.
authors.affiliation: Heart Transplantation Centre Utrecht/Groningen, Department of Immunology, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Wijngaard
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Van der Meulen
authors.forename: F H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Gmelig Meyling
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: De Jonge
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Schuurman
mesh_terms: D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000517:prevention & control; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D009206:Myocardium / Q000276:immunology; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000276:immunology*; D012995:Solubility
chemical_list: D016827:CD8 Antigens; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2