Basic Research
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2003. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. May 15, 2003; 9(5): 1067-1071
Published online May 15, 2003. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v9.i5.1067
Effect of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 on preventing allograft from acute rejection following rat orthotoic liver transplantation
Ai-Bin Zhang, Shu-Sen Zheng, Chang-Ku Jia, Yan Wang
Ai-Bin Zhang, Shu-Sen Zheng, Chang-Ku Jia, Yan Wang, Department of Hepatobiliary Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Medicine School, Zhejiang University, Key Lab of Combined Multi-Organ Transplantation, Ministry of Public Health, Hangzhou 310003, Zhejiang Province, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Ai-Bin Zhang, Department of Hepatobiliary Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Medicine School, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, Zhejiang Province, China. cheung163@163.com
Telephone: +86-571-87236570
Received: November 6, 2002
Revised: November 23, 2002
Accepted: December 16, 2002
Published online: May 15, 2003
Abstract

AIM: To study the mechanism and the preventive role of 1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 in acute rejection following orthotopic liver transplantation.

METHODS: Rats were randomly divided as donors or recipients for orthotopic liver allotransplantation model. Four groups were designed in the study, Group I: syngenic control (Wistar to Wistar); Group II: acute rejection (SD to Wistar); Group III: acute rejection treated with cyclosporine A, and Group IV: acute rejection treated with 1,25-(OH)2 D3. Liver function, rejection activity index and mRNA of IFN-γ, IL-10 intragraft in recipients were measured on day 1, 5, 7, 15, 30 posttransplant for assessing graft function, severity of acute rejection and immune state of recipients.

RESULTS: Survival time of recipients in Group IV was significantly prolonged (4/6 recipients survived for over 100 days. vs Group II, P < 0.001; vs Group III, P > 0.05). After treatment with 1,25-(OH)2 D3, mean value of all the assay tested on each experimental time was compared, liver function in group IV was significantly improved (AST 127 ± 41 U/L-360 ± 104 U/L, BIL 13 ± 5 mmol/l-38 ± 11 mmol/l; vs Group II, P < 0.05; vs Group III, P > 0.05. Rejection activity index was significantly decreased (0-3.3 ± 1.6; vs Group II, P < 0.05; vs Group III, P > 0.05). Level of hepatic IFN-γ mRNA in group IV was decreased, while level of hepatic IL-10 mRNA was increased (vs Group II, P < 0.05; vs Group III, P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION: Our results indicated that 1,25-(OH)2 D3 induced the secretion of cytokine toward to Th2 type, which would alleviate acute rejection, protect liver function and prolong survival of recipient after orthotopic liver transplantation.

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