Effect of immunosuppressant blood levels on serum concentration of interleukin-17 and -23 in stable liver transplant recipients.
BACKGROUND
T(H)17 cells have been recently described to be involved in inflammatory and immune-mediated diseases, but there is no evidence of their role in human liver transplantation. Interleukin (IL)-23 is considered an inducer cytokine, whereas IL-17 is the main cytokine released by T(H)17 cells. The aim of our study was to measure the serum levels of IL-17 and IL-23 in stable liver transplant recipients and examine the influence of immunosuppressant concentrations.


METHODS
Serum levels of IL-23 and IL-17 were determined in 38 healthy subjects and 35 stable hepatic transplant recipients who were free of rejection episodes for at least 8 years. The results were analyzed according to the simultaneous blood levels of cyclosporine (n = 20) or tacrolimus (n = 15).


RESULTS
No significant differences were observed in the serum levels of IL-17 and IL-23 between healthy subjects and transplanted patients. In addition, patients with low blood levels of tacrolimus (<6 ng/mL), but not cyclosporine, showed significantly lower serum levels of the 2 cytokines.


CONCLUSIONS
These preliminary results suggested a lack of activation of the T(H)17 pathway, which was more pronounced among the patient subgroup treated with tacrolimus.
Gastroenterology and Hepatology Unit, University Hospital Marqués de Valdecilla, Fundación Marqués de Valdecilla-IFIMAV, Santander, Spain. digfge@humv.es
E
E
Fábrega
M
M
López-Hoyos
D
D
San Segundo
F
F
Casafont
M J
MJ
Benito
F
F
Pons-Romero
D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000097:blood*; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000097:blood*; D053759:Interleukin-23 / Q000097:blood*; D008104:Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic / Q000601:surgery; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000097:blood*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D020381:Interleukin-17; D053759:Interleukin-23; D016572:Cyclosporine; D016559:Tacrolimus