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.
Fábrega
E
E
Gastroenterology and Hepatology Unit, University Hospital Marqués de Valdecilla, Fundación Marqués de Valdecilla-IFIMAV, Santander, Spain. digfge@humv.es
López-Hoyos
M
M
San Segundo
D
D
Casafont
F
F
Benito
M J
MJ
Pons-Romero
F
F
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