title: Diagnostic value of peripheral blood T-cell activation and soluble IL-2 receptor for acute rejection in liver transplantation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  T-cells play an important role in the pathogenesis of rejection. Monitoring T-cells activation markers in peripheral blood may contribute to diagnosis of acute rejection after liver transplantation (LTX).
  
  
  METHODS
  Lymphocyte subset distribution, expression of T-cell activation markers (flow cytometry), concentration of soluble (s) interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R) (solid phase chemiluminescence immunoassay), and liver enzymes as well as bilirubin were prospectively tested in peripheral blood samples of LTX patients with (n=69) and without acute rejection (n=50). Acute rejection was assessed by standard criteria including liver biopsies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Intra-individual monitoring of immune parameters revealed an up-regulation of IL-2 receptor (CD25) expression on CD4 and CD8 T-cells together with increases in sIL-2R levels in patients with acute rejections. Measuring sIL-2R levels resulted in highest diagnostic efficiency (>85%). This level of diagnostic efficiency was not reached by any other marker tested. From all conventional markers of hepatocellular integrity and function, alkaline phosphatase reached the highest level of diagnostic efficiency with 70%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Monitoring of up-regulation of the IL-2/IL-2R pathway represents a useful tool for assessment of acute rejection after LTX.
authors: Institut für Laboratoriumsmedizin und Pathobiochemie, Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, D-13353 Berlin, Germany. andreas.lun@charite.de
authors: Andreas
authors: A
authors: Lun
authors: Mi Young
authors: MY
authors: Cho
authors: Christian
authors: C
authors: Müller
authors: Gerhard
authors: G
authors: Staffa
authors: Wolf Otto
authors: WO
authors: Bechstein
authors: Cornelia
authors: C
authors: Radke
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Neuhaus
authors: Harald
authors: H
authors: Renz
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015870:Gene Expression; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000276:immunology*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008875:Middle Aged; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D012698:Serologic Tests; D012995:Solubility; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2