Original Articles
Copyright ©The Author(s) 1999. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jun 15, 1999; 5(3): 217-220
Published online Jun 15, 1999. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v5.i3.217
Expression of perforin and granzyme B mRNA in judgement of immunosuppressive effect in rat liver transplantation
Shao-Geng Zhang, Meng-Chao Wu, Jing-Wang Tan, Han Chen, Jia-Mei Yang, Qi-Jun Qian
Shao-Geng Zhang, Jing-Wang Tan, The Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Fuzhou Military General Hospital, Fuzhou 350025, Fujian Province, China
Meng-Chao Wu, Han Chen, Jia-Mei Yang, Qi-Jun Qian Shanghai East Hepatobiliary Hospital of Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, Shanghai, China
Shao-Geng Zhang, male, born on 1964-02-16 in Nanchang city, Jiangxi Province, graduated from Shanghai Second Military Medical University in 1997, under the instruction of professor Wu Meng-Chao, he was engaged in the studies of liver transplantation and obtained M.D. and Ph.D. Now he is working in the Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Fuzhou Military General Hospital.
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Dr. Shao-Geng Zhang, Department of Hepatobil iary Surgery, Fuzhou Military General Hospital, 156 Xi Huan Bei Road, Fuzhou 350025, Fujian Province, China
Telephone: +86-591-3709089
Received: February 5, 1999
Revised: February 21, 1999
Accepted: March 10, 1999
Published online: June 15, 1999
Abstract

AIM: To explore the expression of perforin and granzyme B genes mRNA to judge the effect of immunosuppression in acute rejection of liver transplantation.

METHODS: The expression of perforin and granzyme B genes mRNA was examined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in hamster to rat liver grafts under the immunosuppression of cyclosporine or/and splenectomy. Histological findings were studied comparatively.

RESULTS: Cyclosporine could obviously decrease the cellular infiltration, and completely repress the expression of mRNA for perforin and granzyme B, but could not change severe hepatocyte necrosis and hemorrhage. Splenectomy could significantly lighten hepatocyte necrosis, and completely eliminate hemorrhage, but not affect the cellular infiltration and the expression of perforin and granzyme B genes mRNA. Cyclosporine or splenectomy alone could not prolong the survival time, however, their combination could completely repress the rejection of liver grafts. The survival time of animals were significantly prolonged (37.1 days). The architecture of hepatic lobules was preserved. There wes slight cellular infiltration in the portal tracts and no expression of perforin and granzyme B genes mRNA could been seen in three weeks after transplantation.

CONCLUSION: Perforin and granzyme B genes are valuable in judging the effect of immunosuppression in liver transplantation.

Keywords: liver transplantation; immunosuppression; perforin granzyme B genes; graft rejection