title: Expression of glucocorticoid-induced tumor necrosis factor receptor ligand in rat graft after liver transplantation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Costimulation between the glucocorticoid-induced tumor necrosis factor receptor and its ligand (GITRL) breaks immunologic tolerance induced by regulatory T cells. The purpose of this research was to examine the involvement of GITRL during rat liver transplantation, the survival of which depends on interactions between regulatory T cells and Kupffer cells (KCs).
  
  
  METHODS
  Recipients were divided into 2 groups: The allograft group underwent orthotopic liver transplantation from male Lewis to Brown Norway (BN) rats and the isograft group, BN-to-BN liver transplantation. We evaluated 2-week survival rates, histologic changes, as well as serum and supernatant levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α); GITRL, and TNF-α expressions in the graft, and GITRL expression by graft-derived KCs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  TNF-α levels were increased in plasma and in the supernates of KCs during allograft transplantation compared with isograft liver transplantation (P <.05). The expressions of TNF-α and GITRL in liver grafts were increased during acute rejection. Furthermore, the expression of GITRL on KCs derived from allografts was increased compared with isografts (P < .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  GITRL expression on KCs may mediate acute rejection in liver transplantation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Lian
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: You
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gong
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; C561676:glucocorticoid-induced tumor necrosis factor receptor ligand, rat