Temporal evolution of soluble Fas and Fas ligand in patients with orthotopic liver transplantation.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to analyze the expression levels of plasma soluble Fas (sFas) and soluble Fas ligand (sFasL) in patients with orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) procedures routinely performed without venovenous bypass.


METHODS
The sFas and sFasL were analyzed in the blood of 20 consecutive patients who underwent transplantation. Blood samples were drawn from the radial artery at serial time points before, during, and after surgery. Plasma levels of sFas and sFasL were detected by Enzyme Linked-Immuno-Sorbent Assay. Plasma aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) were assayed by routine clinical chemistry testing.


RESULTS
Marked elevation of plasma AST and ALT were detected at the reperfusion and postoperation time points (P<0.001), with a peak on the first postoperative day. The mean plasma concentration of sFas and sFasL remained unchanged from preoperative to anhepatic phase (T1 to T3) (P> or =0.268). The sFas and sFasL concentrations were significantly higher at 15 and 60 min after reperfusion compared to the preoperative value (P< or =0.048). Postoperatively, sFas and sFasL concentration were decreased to preoperative levels on the first postoperative day (P> or =0.127).


CONCLUSIONS
The sFas and sFasL seem to be involved in reperfusion injury during OLT. The understanding of Fas may provide new insights into the mechanisms of ischemia/reperfusion injury during OLT.
Wang
Yuliang
Y
Orient Organ Transplant Center, Tianjin First Central Hospital, Nankai District, Fukang Road, No. 24, 300192 Tianjin, PR China. wang_yu_l@yahoo.com.cn
Liu
Yawu
Y
Han
Ruifa
R
Yang
Jie
J
Zhu
Zhijun
Z
Zhang
Yanyan
Y
Yao
Zhi
Z
Gao
Wei
W
Shen
Zhongyang
Z
D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*
D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D019014:fas Receptor; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase