Cytokine analysis to predict immunosuppression.
BACKGROUND
Recently, it has been realized that TH1/TH2 cytokine production offer the unique possibility to predict drug efficacy. However, there is still an incessant need to explore assay conditions and techniques of analyzing cytokines, which are specific and reliable for monitoring drug efficacy.


METHODS
In this study we used the multiplex bead array technique to detect cytokines of TH1/TH2 cells in whole blood of heart transplanted (HTx) recipients.


RESULTS
We found significantly different levels of cytokine expression in HTx recipients compared with cytokine levels in patients prior to HTx. Furthermore, particular cytokine levels were significantly decreased 2 h after drug dosing, compared with cytokine levels before dosing in mitogen-stimulated whole blood.


CONCLUSIONS
Cytokine analysis with the multiplex array technique in mitogen-stimulated whole blood provides the possibility to predict immunosuppression.
Department of Cardiac Surgery, University of Leipzig, Heart Center Leipzig, 04289 Leipzig, Germany. bartenm@medizin.uni-leipzig.de
Markus J
MJ
Barten
Axel
A
Rahmel
József
J
Bocsi
Andreas
A
Boldt
Jens
J
Garbade
Stefan
S
Dhein
Friedrich W
FW
Mohr
Jan F
JF
Gummert
D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000379:methods*; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000097:blood; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D015759:Ionomycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
D016207:Cytokines; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D007376:Interleukin-2; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016753:Interleukin-10; D015847:Interleukin-4; D015759:Ionomycin; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D016572:Cyclosporine; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate