Intracellular ATP production in CD4+ T cells as a predictor for infection and allograft rejection in trough-level guided pediatric liver transplant recipients under calcineurin-inhibitor therapy.
BACKGROUND
The assessment of cell-mediated immune responses through the measurement of intracellular adenosine-tri-phosphate (iATP) production (Cylex ImmuKnow) as a pharmacodynamic biomarker of immune function represents a potential tool to optimize individual immunosuppressive therapy independent of drug dosage or trough levels. This study aims to investigate the correlations between iATP and adverse events, immunosuppression, calcineurin-inhibitor-trough levels, and age.


METHODS
In this prospective trial, 31 nontransplant pediatric subjects and 50 consecutive children were included after they underwent liver transplantation (LTX). During the study period, 4 allograft rejections and 3 acute infections occurred. The patients were treated with cyclosporine, tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil, and everolimus either as monotherapy or in combinations. The reactivity of the immune system was measured as iATP concentration in CD4+ T-cells after in vitro stimulation by phytohemagglutinin.


RESULTS
The iATP concentrations in patients with intercurrent, clinically significant infections were in the low immune response range (median iATP 181 versus 251 ng/mL, P = 0.308), whereas the patients with incidental allograft rejection had significantly higher iATP concentrations as compared with the event-free group (median iATP 444 versus 251 ng/mL, P = 0.017). However, there was a wide range of iATP concentrations in both nontransplant and LTX patient groups, and no clear iATP cut-off values for an increased risk of infection or rejection could be defined. Post LTX, stable-phase patients showed a significantly lower iATP compared with respective controls (median iATP 297 versus 384 ng/mL, P = 0.013). No significant correlation between calcineurin-inhibitor-trough concentrations and iATP was found. iATP was not correlated with age, but was inversely correlated with time after transplantation.


CONCLUSIONS
The observed correlation between clinical events and iATP concentrations is similar to the findings previously reported in adult patients who underwent transplantation. The lack of correlation of iATP with trough drug concentrations suggests that the ImmuKnow assay provides independent information that may be useful to guide immunosuppressive therapy in pediatric (liver) transplant patients. However, the wide range of iATP levels in event-free patients suggests that serial iATP measurements will be necessary to assess and guide the individual immunosuppressive therapy. Further investigations are needed to evaluate and extend these findings.
Department of General Pediatrics, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany. schulz-juergensen@pediatrics.uni-kiel.de
Sebastian
S
Schulz-Juergensen
Martin M
MM
Burdelski
Michael
M
Oellerich
Gunnar
G
Brandhorst
D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000293:Adolescent; D015415:Biomarkers; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D065095:Calcineurin Inhibitors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007223:Infant; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male
D015415:Biomarkers; D065095:Calcineurin Inhibitors; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate