[The monitoring of Th1/Th2 cytokine expression and its significance to the diagnosis of acute rejection after pancreatic transplantation].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship between the change of Th1/Th2 cytokine expression in peripheral blood and the acute rejection or immune tolerance after pancreatic transplantation.


METHODS
Twenty-four pigs of mixed inbreed were randomly divided into three groups, namely the control group, the transplantation group which was established by pancreatoduodenal allotranplantation, and the transplantation plus immunosuppression group which was brought into being in accordance to the immunosuppression regimen of CsA, MMF and metrisone after the pancreatoduodenal allotransplantation. The changes of the expression of Th1/Th2 cytokine in CD4+ T cells were detected by flow cytometry on the day before operation and on the first, 3rd, 5th ,and 7th day after operation; meanwhile, the levels of glucose, insulin and glucagons in systemic circulation were measured, and the tissues of pancreatic grafts were collected on the first, 3rd, 5th and 7th day after operation.


RESULTS
IFN-gamma expression was up-regulated sharply from the first day to 7th day after transplantation in transplantation group and was up-regulated slightly in immunosuppression group. IFN-gamma expression showed significant difference between transplantation group and immunosuppression group on the first, 3rd, 5th and 7th day after transplantation (P < 0.05). IL-4 expression was down-regulated continuously in transplantation group, but up-regulated in immunosuppression group. IL-4 expression exhibited significant difference between transplantation group and immunosuppression group on the 3rd, 5th, and 7th day after transplantation (P < 0.05). In comparison with control, the levels of sugar, insulin and glucagons in blood displayed no significant difference between transplantation group and immunosuppression group (P > 0.05). In comparison with transplantation group, the immunosuppression group showed milder rejection on the 5th and 7th day after transplantation (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Change of expression of Th1 and Th2 cytokines may be an important parameter in determining whether acute rejection occurs after pancreatic transplantation.
Han
Fang-hai
FH
Department of General Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
Zhang
Zhao-da
ZD
Li
Yue-chun
YC
Zhou
Xiang
X
Hu
Wei-ming
WM
Tian
Bo-le
BL
D000818:Animals; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004386:Duodenum / Q000637:transplantation; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D016035:Pancreas Transplantation / Q000276:immunology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D011897:Random Allocation; D013552:Swine; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology*
D016207:Cytokines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma