Cytokine and human leukocyte antigen (HLA) profile for graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) after organ transplantation.

Xinhua Chen,Yuning Xu,Xueqin Meng,Liming Wu,Hongchun Li,Shengyong Yin,Haiyang Xie,Shusen Zheng

doi:10.1186/s40001-016-0232-y

Abstract

BackgroundGraft-versus-host disease (GVHD) after liver and kidney transplantation has high mortality and causes diagnostic challenges. This study aims to describe the cytokine and human leukocyte antigen (HLA) profile in the GVHD after liver and kidney transplantation.MethodsA high-throughput detection kit was applied and altogether 18 different cytokines were tested simultaneously. GVHD patients included 23 post-liver transplantation patients; 22 post-renal transplantation patients; The control patients include 22 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients without transplantation and 20 healthy controls. Their HLA characters were compared.ResultsThe full spectrum of cytokines was present. The inflammatory markers were activated significantly in liver transplantation. The level of inflammatory markers in liver transplantation was higher than that in renal transplantation, HCC or healthy controls. GVHD was associated with the HLA characters; HLA characters are involved in liver GVHD occurrence and act as risk factors.ConclusionOur findings confirmed that the inflammatory cytokines play a pathogenic role in GVHD and can be used as early diagnostic markers. The HLA mismatch acts as a risk factor in liver transplantation to predict GVHD occurrence.Graphical abstractDiagnostic and therapeutic target for GVHD

Highlights

Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) after liver and kidney transplantation has high mortality and causes diagnostic challenges
The liver transplantation is the curative treatment for Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) but post-transplantation graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) has caused mortality [3, 4]
Multiple cytokines can be tested in a single run by using a small volume of serum sample (Fig. 1)

Summary

Introduction

Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) after liver and kidney transplantation has high mortality and causes diagnostic challenges. This study aims to describe the cytokine and human leukocyte antigen (HLA) profile in the GVHD after liver and kidney transplantation. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related death in the world [1, 2] and China accounts for almost half of HCC cases [2]. The liver transplantation is the curative treatment for HCC but post-transplantation graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) has caused mortality [3, 4]. The cytokine and HLA profile of GVHD can help understand the

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