Change of Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells IFN-γ, IL-10, and TGF-β1 mRNA Expression Levels With Active Human Cytomegalovirus Infection in Orthotopic Liver Transplantation

Abstract

Aim To analyze the expression levels of interferon gamma (IFN-γ), interleukin 10 (IL-10), and transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in liver transplanted recipients with active HCMV infection. Methods PBMCs were isolated from 20 liver transplanted recipients with active HCMV infection and 20 recipients without HCMV infection. The expression levels of IFN-γ, IL-10 and TGF-β1 mRNA in PBMCs were measured by TaqMan real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The results were compared with that from 20 healthy individuals. Results The expression level of TGF-β1 mRNA was significantly increased in the active HCMV infection group compared with that in stable group or healthy group ( P < .001). The expression level of IL-10 mRNA was significantly increased in the active HCMV infection group compared with the healthy group ( P = .001). However, the IFN-γ mRNA expression level was significantly decreased in the active HCMV infection group compared with that in the stable group or the healthy group ( P < .05). Conclusion Cytokine production plays a role in the HCMV infection. This may provide an important clue to a better understanding of the pathogenesis in liver transplanted recipients with active HCMV infection.