title: Vascular deposition of complement C4d is increased in liver allografts with chronic rejection.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Complement protein C4d has been used as a marker of antibody mediated rejection in kidney allografts. C4d has been shown to be deposited also in chronic kidney allograft rejection, and frequently in acute liver allograft rejection. In chronic liver allograft rejection there is limited data of C4d positivity.
  
  
  METHODS
  7 liver allografts explanted at retransplantation due to chronic rejection were examined for expression of C4d. Immunoperoxidase technique on frozen sections was used. The "zero" biopsies of the same livers at the first transplantation served as controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Expression of C4d was significantly increased in portal and central veins as well as in the portal stroma of the grafts with chronic rejection when compared to the expression at implantation of the graft.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The complement system and anti-donor antibodies may contribute to the process of chronic allograft rejection in the liver.
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Transplantation and Liver Surgery, Helsinki University Hospital and the University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland. timi.martelius@helsinki.fi
authors.forename: Timi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Martelius
authors.forename: Leena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Halme
authors.forename: Johanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Arola
authors.forename: Krister
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Höckerstedt
authors.forename: Irmeli
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lautenschlager
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000920:Antibody-Dependent Cell Cytotoxicity / Q000276:immunology; D015935:Complement C4b / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D051799:Delayed Graft Function / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006650:Histocompatibility Testing; D006801:Humans; D007518:Isoantibodies / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D007518:Isoantibodies; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D015935:Complement C4b; C032261:complement C4d