Brief Reports
Copyright ©2005 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Mar 21, 2005; 11(11): 1700-1704
Published online Mar 21, 2005. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v11.i11.1700
Correlation of CD95 and soluble CD95 expression with acute rejection status of liver transplantation
Yu-Liang Wang, Yan-Yan Zhang, Guang Li, Zhi-Qin Tang, Yan-Li Zhou, Zhi-Jun Zhu, Zhi Yao
Yu-Liang Wang, Zhi-Qin Tang, Tianjin Institute of Thrombosis and Hemostasis, Laboratory Center, Tianjin First Central Hospital, 24 FuKang Road, Tianjin 300192, China
Yan-Yan Zhang, INSERM U362, Institut Gustave Roussy, PR1, 39 Rue Camille Desmoulins, 94805 Villejuif, France
Guang Li, Department of Biology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China
Yan-Li Zhou, Department of Rheumatosis, First Teaching Hospital Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicin, Tanjin 300193, China
Zhi-Jun Zhu, Organ Transplantation Center, Tianjin First Central Hospital, 24 FuKang Road, Tianjin 300192, China
Zhi Yao, Department of Immunology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Dr. Yu-Liang Wang, Tianjin Institute of Thrombosis and Hemostasis, Laboratory Center, Tianjin First Central Hospital, 24 FuKang Road, Tianjin 300192, China. wang_yu_l@yahoo.com.cn
Telephone: +86-13001335062 Fax: +86-22-23626600
Received: September 8, 2004
Revised: September 10, 2004
Accepted: November 24, 2004
Published online: March 21, 2005
Abstract

AIM: To analyze the expression levels of soluble form of CD95, CD95 ligand (sCD95 and sCD95L, respectively) in plasma and CD95 expression on CD3+ cells in liver-transplanted recipients with acute rejection (AR).

METHODS: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from 30 clinically liver transplanted recipients. CD95 expression on CD3+ cells was quantitatively measured by two-color fluorescence activated cell sorter (FACS) analysis. Lymphocyte surface phenotypes of CD4, CD8, CD16 and CD56 were determined by flow cytometry. Plasma levels of sCD95 and sCD95L were detected by Enzyme Linked-Immuno-Sorbent Assay (ELISA). The results were compared with that from normal healthy volunteers (n = 15 individuals).

RESULTS: FACS analysis showed that CD95 expression on CD3+ T cells was significantly increased in liver transplanted recipients with AR compared to that in stable recipients without rejection and infection or healthy individuals who did not undergo transplantation (18676.93±11588.34/molecule, 6848.20±1712.96/molecule, 6418.01±2001.95/molecule, respectively, P<0.01). Whereas no significant difference was seen between liver-transplanted stable recipients and healthy individuals. Furthermore, no significant differences were detected between each group with CD4/CD8 ratio or the percentage of CD16+56+ cells. Plasma levels of sCD95 were significantly higher in transplanted recipients with AR compared to that in stable recipients or healthy individuals (391.88±196.00, 201.37±30.30, 148.83±58.25 pg/mL, respectively, P<0.01). In contrast, the plasma levels of sCD95L in liver- transplanted recipients were not significantly different from that in healthy individuals.

CONCLUSION: The present results indicate that the increased CD95 expression on CD3+ cells and the increased levels of sCD95 in plasma may modify the immunological situation of the recipients after transplantation or represent the ongoing graft rejection.

Keywords: Liver transplantation; Acute rejection; CD95