[Regulatory function of tacrolimus and CsA on CD4/CD8 T lymphocyte subgroups and costimulators on them in allo-liver recipients].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the regulatory function of FK506 and CsA on CD4/CD8 T lymphocyte subgroups and co-stimulators on them.


METHODS
The fluorescein-labelled monoclonal antibodies and flowcytometer were used to determine the T-lymphocyte subgroups and the expression of CD28, CD152 and ICOS on them in allo-liver recipients treated with FK506 or CsA at the end of 2 months after transplantation and treatment. Healthy volunteers and the patients who suffered from severe hepatic diseases and would receive liver transplantation were used as controls.


RESULTS
In disease-control group, the balance of T cell subgroups was disturbed and the expression of co-stimulators was abnormal. In liver recipients receiving immunosuppressive therapy, the expression of T-cell subgroups returned to the normal level, the expressions of CD28 and ICOS on T cells decreased significantly (P<0.05), while the expression of CD152 on T cells increased significantly (P<0.05). Between two treatment group, the expression of CD4(+)T cells and the expression of CD28 and ICOS on CD8(+)T cells in CsA-treated group were much higher than those in FK506-treated group (P<0.05), and there was no significant difference between two treatment groups in other indexes.


CONCLUSIONS
At routine blood concentration, there is some difference in the regulatory effect of FK506 and CsA on T-cell subgroups and the expression of co-stimulators on T cells. The regulatory effect of FK506 on T-cell subgroups is stronger than that of CsA. FK506 can not only inhibit the expression of positive co-stimulatory molecules CD28 and ICOS but also promote the expression of negative co-stimulatory molecule CD152, while CsA can exert its immunosuppressive effect mainly through promoting the expression of CD152.
Division of Clinical Immunology, Laboratory Department of Huaxi Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
Yang-Juan
YJ
Bai
Lan-Lan
LL
Wang
Bei
B
Cai
Yuan-Gao
YG
Zou
Wei-Hua
WH
Feng
Lu-Nan
LN
Yan
D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000378:metabolism; D018106:CD28 Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D060908:CTLA-4 Antigen; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D060889:Inducible T-Cell Co-Stimulator Protein; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D015703:Antigens, CD; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D018106:CD28 Antigens; D060908:CTLA-4 Antigen; C556706:CTLA4 protein, human; C556692:ICOS protein, human; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D060889:Inducible T-Cell Co-Stimulator Protein; D016572:Cyclosporine; D016559:Tacrolimus