Rejection In Liver Transplantation Research Articles

Gene Expression-based Molecular Scoring of Pancreas Transplant Rejection for a Quantitative Assessment of Rejection Severity and Resistance to Treatment

Pancreas transplantation improves glycemic control and mortality in patients with diabetes but requires aggressive immunosuppression to control the alloimmune and autoimmune response. Recent developments in “omics’ methods have provided gene transcript-based biomarkers for organ transplant rejection. The tissue Common Response Module (tCRM) score is developed to identify the severity of rejection in kidney, heart, liver, and lung transplants. Still, it has not yet been validated in pancreas transplants (PT). We evaluated the tCRM score’s relevance in PT and additional markers of acute cellular rejection (ACR) for PT. An analysis on 51 pancreas biopsies with ACR identified 37 genes and 56 genes significantly upregulated in the case of grade 3 and grade 2 ACR respectively (P<0.05). Significant differences were seen with higher grades of rejection among several transcripts. Of the 22 genes differentially expressed in Grade 3 ACR, 18 were also differentially expressed in Grade 2 ACR. The rejection signal was attributable to activated leukocytes’ infiltration. Significantly higher tCRM scores were found in grade 3 ACR (p = 0.007) and grade 2 ACR (p = 0.004), compared to normal samples. The tCRM score was able to distinguish treatment-resistant cases from those successfully treated for rejection.

Hemoglobin and total bilirubin may affect tacrolimus clearance in liver transplant patient following the early postoperative period: a case report

BackgroundTacrolimus is a potent calcineurin inhibitor (CNI) that is principally used as a first-line immunosuppressant for the prophylaxis of allograft rejection in liver transplantation (LT) patients. In clinical practice, prescribing the optimal tacrolimus dosage is complicated by its narrow therapeutic index and high pharmacokinetic variability. Thus, performing therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of only tacrolimus may not provide optimal drug levels. However, other influential clinical factors affecting tacrolimus levels, such as hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit, and total bilirubin (TBIL), should be considered while adjusting tacrolimus levels. This case report aims to introduce clinicians and their teams to taking the pharmacokinetic prediction equation into consideration for a better understanding of tacrolimus dosage adjustment during the early postoperative LT.Case presentationIn this case report, an 18-year-old male patient of Thai ethnicity was admitted for orthotropic liver transplantation, and tacrolimus was prescribed as a cornerstone immunosuppressive agent. In the immediate postoperative period, which is the most challenging period in liver transplantation, the population pharmacokinetics predictive equation was clinically used to assist in dosage adjustment of tacrolimus by considering the significant clinical factors in this case.Hemoglobin and total bilirubin levels were deemed significant clinical factors affecting the oral clearance (CL/F) of tacrolimus. First, a decrease in the Hb concentration increases the free drug concentration and therefore increases the CL/F of tacrolimus. Second, an elevated TBIL decreases the biliary excretion of tacrolimus, resulting in a decrease in the CL/F of tacrolimus. Thus, dose optimization of tacrolimus would be accurate when taking the pharmacokinetic prediction equation into consideration. Moreover, the results may contribute to a better understanding of tacrolimus pharmacokinetic variability in each transplant patient during the immediate postoperative course.ConclusionsHemoglobin and total bilirubin were significant clinical factors influencing the oral clearance of tacrolimus early after liver transplantation. A decrease in the hemoglobin concentration would increase the free drug concentration and therefore increase the oral clearance of tacrolimus. An elevated total bilirubin decreases the biliary excretion of tacrolimus, resulting in a decrease in the oral clearance of tacrolimus.

Mapping out a medication adherence promotion system (MAPS): can it reduce graft rejection in pediatric liver transplantation?

Mapping out a medication adherence promotion system (MAPS): can it reduce graft rejection in pediatric liver transplantation?

322.7: Single cell RNA-sequencing delineates CD8+ tissue resident memory T cells maintaining rejection in liver transplantation.

322.7: Single cell RNA-sequencing delineates CD8+ tissue resident memory T cells maintaining rejection in liver transplantation.

P.487: Alloactivation has a key role in biopsy-proven acute rejection in pediatric liver transplant.

P.487: Alloactivation has a key role in biopsy-proven acute rejection in pediatric liver transplant.

MRI-serum-based score accurately identifies patients undergoing liver transplant without rejection avoiding the need for liver biopsy: A multisite European study.

Serum liver tests (serum tests) and histological assessment for T-cell-mediated rejection are essential for post-liver transplant monitoring. Liver biopsy carries a risk of complications that are preferably avoided in low-risk patients. Multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) is a reliable noninvasive diagnostic method that quantifies liver disease activity and has prognostic utility. Our aim was to determine whether using mpMRI in combination with serum tests could noninvasively identify low-risk patients who underwent liver transplants who are eligible to avoid invasive liver biopsies. In a multicenter prospective study (RADIcAL2), including 131 adult and pediatric (children and adolescent) patients with previous liver transplants from the Netherlands, Portugal, and the United Kingdom, concomitant mpMRI and liver biopsies were performed. Biopsies were centrally read by 2 expert pathologists. T-cell-mediated rejection was assessed using the BANFF global assessment. Diagnostic accuracy to discriminate no rejection versus indeterminate or T-cell-mediated liver transplant rejection was performed using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve. In this study, 52% of patients received a routine (protocol) biopsy, while 48% had a biopsy for suspicion of pathology. Thirty-eight percent of patients had no rejection, while 62% had either indeterminate (21%) or T-cell-mediated rejection (41%). However, there was a high interobserver variability (0 < Cohen's Kappa < 0.85) across all histology scores. The combined score of mpMRI and serum tests had area under the receiver operating characteristic curve 0.7 (negative predictive value 0.8) to identify those without either indeterminate or T-cell-mediated rejection. Combining both imaging and serum biomarkers into a composite biomarker (imaging and serum biomarkers) has the potential to monitor the liver graft to effectively risk stratify patients and identify those most likely to benefit from a noninvasive diagnostic approach, reducing the need for liver biopsy.

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells-induced exhaustion of CD8 + T-cell participates in rejection after liver transplantation

Liver transplantation (LT) rejection remains the most pervasive problem associated with this procedure, while the mechanism involved is still complicated and undefined. One promising solution may involve the use of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC). However, the immunological mechanisms underlying the effects of MDSC after LT remain unclear. This study is meant to clarify the role MDSCs play after liver transplantation. In this study, we collected liver tissue and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from LT patients showing varying degrees of rejection, as well as liver and spleen tissue samples from mice LT models. These samples were then analyzed using flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry and multiple immunofluorescence. M-MDSCs and CD8 + T-cells extracted from C57/BL6 mice were enriched and cocultured for in vitro experiments. Results, as obtained in both LT patients and LT mice model, revealed that the proportion and frequency of M-MDSC and PD-1 + T-cells increased significantly under conditions associated with a high degree of LT rejection. Within the LT rejection group, our immunofluorescence results showed that a close spatial contiguity was present between PD-1 + T-cells and M-MDSCs in these liver tissue samples and the proportion of CD84/PD-L1 double-positive M-MDSC was greater than that of G-MDSC. There was a positive correlation between the activity of CD84 and immunosuppressive function of M-MDSCs including PD-L1 expression and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, as demonstrated in our in vitro model. M-MDSCs treated with CD84 protein were able to induce co-cultured CD8 + T-cells to express high levels of exhaustion markers. We found that CD84 regulated M-MDSC function via expression of PD-L1 through activation of the Akt/Stat3 pathway. These results suggest that the capacity for CD84 to regulate M-MDSC induction of CD8 + T-cell exhaustion may play a key role in LT rejection. Such findings provide important, new insights into the mechanisms of tolerance induction in LT.

Immunosuppression in adult liver transplant recipients: a 2024 update from the Italian Liver Transplant Working Group.

Advances in surgical procedures and immunosuppressive therapies have considerably improved the outcomes of patients who have undergone liver transplantation in the past few decades. In 2020, the Italian Liver Transplant Working Group published practice-oriented algorithms for immunosuppressive therapy (IT) in adult liver transplant (LT) recipients. Due to the rapidly evolving LT field, regular updates to the recommendations are required. This review presents a consensus- and evidence-based update of the 2020 recommendations. The Italian Liver Transplant Working Group set out to address new IT issues, which were discussed based on supporting literature and the specialists' personal experiences. The panel deliberated on and graded each statement before consensus was reached. A series of consensus statements were formulated and finalized on: (i) oncologic indications for LT; (ii) management of chronic LT rejection; (iii) combined liver-kidney transplantation; (iv) immunosuppression for transplantation with an organ donated after circulatory death; (v) transplantation in the presence of frailty and sarcopenia; and (vi) ABO blood group incompatibility between donor and recipient. Algorithms were updated in the following LT groups: standard patients, critical patients, oncology patients, patients with specific etiology, and patients at high immunologic risk. A steroid-free approach was generally recommended, except for patients with autoimmune liver disease and those at high immunologic risk. The updated consensus- and evidence-based 2024 recommendations for immunosuppression regimens in adult patients with ABO-compatible LT address a range of clinical variables that should be considered to optimize the choice of the immunosuppression treatment in clinical practice in Italy.

Impact of Serum IL 10 on Early Prediction of Allograft Rejection in Liver Transplantation

Abstract Background Tissue transplantation is the preferred treatment for end organ failure such as heart, lung, kidney and liver. Unless the donor and recipient of a transplant are genetically identical, the donated tissue is viewed by the immune system of the recipient as non-self. multiple cytokines are involved in this process, however little is known about their predictive role in rejection. IL10 which exhibit anti-inflammatory activity could be used as early predictor of acute rejection. Objective The aim of the current study is to evaluate the possible association between serum IL10 level in liver transplant patients and acute allograft rejection. Patients and Method: This study was conducted on 45 subjects. Patients will be followed up for 2months and they will be further divided into two groups: Those who developed early acute rejection and those who did not develop rejection (controls) Result The study included 38 patients did not develop rejection and 7 patients developed rejection. We found unchanged during rejection of the LT of the levels of IL-10 Conclusion Several studymust be conducted on cytokines on large sample size to prove early prediction of acute rejection

Potential impact of malnutrition on patients with hepatocellular carcinoma undergoing liver transplantation: A nationwide analysis.

e16233 Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the sixth most common cancer and the third leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide. Liver transplantation is the ideal treatment for HCC, and the Milan criteria, which has been the international gold standard, provided the opportunity for HCC patients to undergo liver transplantation with favorable outcomes. On the other hand, malnutrition is a prevalent condition, and carries a substantial burden on health and social-care systems. In this study, we aim to look at the potential impact of malnutrition on in-hospital mortality and other outcomes in HCC patients undergoing liver transplantation. Methods: The United States Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) was used to extract hospitalization data of patients admitted between 2016 to 2018. Using ICD10 revision codes, we identified adults with a diagnosis of HCC, with or without cirrhosis, who underwent liver transplantation with concomitant malnutrition. The control group included HCC patients without malnutrition. The primary outcome was the in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes included length of stay (LOS), acute kidney injury (AKI) and hyponatremia. Multivariate logistic regression was used to adjust for relevant variables. Results: An estimated 33,321 patients were admitted with HCC during the study period. 503 of them underwent liver transplantation, and of those, 75 patients had the diagnosis of malnutrition. In this group of patients, the mean age was 60.3 years. 30% were females and 60% were Caucasians. When adjusted to other relevant variables, malnutrition was associated with increased in-hospital mortality (OR 2.42; P-value 0.033). It was also associated with increased chance of developing an AKI (OR 1.95; P-value 0.014). Moreover, it was associated with increased LOS (OR 1.18) and increased chance of liver transplant rejection (OR 1.47), however, these were not statistically significant. Other factors associated with increased in-hospital mortality in HCC patients undergoing liver transplantation are described in the table. Conclusions: Malnutrition is a potentially treatable condition, however, when untreated it may contribute to poor health and economic outcomes. In this study, HCC patients with malnutrition who underwent liver transplantation, have an increased chance of in-hospital mortality. Furthermore, they had an increased odds of developing an AKI which in turn can prolong the hospital length of stay and total charges. We recommend that clinicians pay more attention to identify patients with or at increased risk for malnutrition in order to treat and optimize them prior to liver transplantation, and therefore to prevent such complications. [Table: see text]

Salidroside ameliorates acute liver transplantation rejection in rats by inhibiting neutrophil extracellular trap formation.

Acute rejection is an important factor affecting the survival of recipients after liver transplantation. Salidroside has various properties, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and hepatoprotective properties. This study aims to investigate whether salidroside can prevent acute rejection after liver transplantation and to examine the underlying mechanisms involved. An in vivo acute rejection model is established in rats that are pretreated with tacrolimus (1 mg/kg/d) or salidroside (10 or 20 mg/kg/d) for seven days after liver transplantation. In addition, an in vitro experiment is performed using neutrophils incubated with salidroside (1, 10, 50 or 100 μM). Hematoxylin-eosin staining, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling staining, immunosorbent assays, immunofluorescence analysis, Evans blue staining, and western blot analysis are performed to examine the impact of salidroside on NET formation and acute rejection in vitro and in vivo. We find that Salidroside treatment reduces pathological liver damage, serum aminotransferase level, and serum levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α in vivo. The expressions of proteins associated with the HMGB1/TLR-4/MAPK signaling pathway (HMGB1, TLR-4, p-ERK1/2, p-JNK, p-P38, cleaved caspase-3, cleaved caspase-9, Bcl-2, Bax, IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6) are also decreased after salidroside treatment. In vitro experiments show that the release of HMGB1/TLR-4/MAPK signaling pathway-associated proteins from neutrophils treated with lipopolysaccharide is decreased by salidroside. Moreover, salidroside inhibits NETosis and protects against acute rejection by regulating the HMGB1/TLR-4/MAPK signaling pathway. Furthermore, salidroside combined with tacrolimus has a better effect than either of the other treatments alone. In summary, salidroside can prevent acute liver rejection after liver transplantation by reducing neutrophil extracellular trap development through the HMGB1/TLR-4/MAPK signaling pathway.

Hotspot Immune Exhaustion: Key to Liver Transplant Rejection

Hotspot Immune Exhaustion: Key to Liver Transplant Rejection

Incidence, epidemiology, and outcomes of acute allograft rejection following liver transplantation in Australia.

Acute allograft rejection is a well-known complication of liver transplantation (LT). The incidence, epidemiology, and outcomes of acute rejection have not been well described in Australia. We retrospectively studied consecutive adults who underwent deceased donor LT at a single center between 2010 and 2020. Donor and recipient data at the time of LT and recipient outcomes were collected from a prospective LT database. Liver biopsy reports were reviewed, and only a graft's first instance of biopsy-proven acute rejection was analyzed. During the study period, 796 liver transplants were performed in 770 patients. Biopsy-proven rejection occurred in 34.9% of transplants. There were no significant changes in the incidence of rejection over time (linear trend p =0.11). The median time to the first episode of rejection was 71 days after LT: 2.2% hyperacute, 50.4% early (≤90d), and 47.5% late rejection (>90d). Independent risk factors for rejection were younger recipient age at transplant (aHR 0.98 per year increase, 95% CI: 0.97-1.00, p =0.01), and ABO-incompatible grafts (aHR 2.55 vs. ABO-compatible, 95% CI: 1.27-5.09, p <0.01) while simultaneous multiorgan transplants were protective (aHR 0.21 vs. LT only, 95% CI: 0.08-0.58, p <0.01). Development of acute rejection (both early and late) was independently associated with significantly reduced graft (aHR 3.13, 95% CI: 2.21-4.42, p <0.001) and patient survival (aHR 3.42, 95% CI: 2.35-4.98, p <0.001). In this 11-year Australian study, acute LT rejection occurred in 35%, with independent risk factors of younger recipient age and ABO-incompatible transplant, while having a simultaneous multiorgan transplant was protective. Acute rejection was independently associated with reduced graft and patient survival after adjustment for other factors.

Spatially resolved immune exhaustion within the alloreactive microenvironment predicts liver transplant rejection.

Allograft rejection is common following clinical organ transplantation, but defining specific immune subsets mediating alloimmunity has been elusive. Calcineurin inhibitor dose escalation, corticosteroids, and/or lymphocyte depleting antibodies have remained the primary options for treatment of clinical rejection episodes. Here, we developed a highly multiplexed imaging mass cytometry panel to study the immune response in archival biopsies from 79 liver transplant (LT) recipients with either no rejection (NR), acute T cell-mediated rejection (TCMR), or chronic rejection (CR). This approach generated a spatially resolved proteomic atlas of 461,816 cells (42 phenotypes) derived from 96 pathologist-selected regions of interest. Our analysis revealed that regulatory (HLADR+ Treg) and PD1+ T cell phenotypes (CD4+ and CD8+ subsets), combined with variations in M2 macrophage polarization, were a unique signature of active TCMR. These data provide insights into the alloimmune microenvironment in clinical LT, including identification of potential targets for focused immunotherapy during rejection episodes and suggestion of a substantial role for immune exhaustion in TCMR.

Impact of serum IL 10 on prediction of early allograft rejection in liver transplantation

Tissue transplantation is the preferred treatment for end organ failure such as heart, lung, kidney, and liver. The immune system recognizes the transplant as non self if the donor and recipient are not genetically identical. Multiple cytokines are involved in this process; however, little is known about their predictive role in rejection. Interleukin 10 (IL-10) which exhibits anti-inflammatory activity could be used as early predictor of acute rejection. The current study intended to determine any potential relationship between acute allograft rejection and blood IL-10 levels in liver transplant (LT) recipients. This study included 45 patients with cirrhotic liver diseases planned for transplantation. Patients were followed up for 2 months and then divided into two groups: patients who developed early acute rejection and those who did not develop rejection (as controls). Of the study patients, 38 (84.4%) patients did not develop rejection and 7 (15.6%) patients developed rejection. The levels of IL-10 did not change during rejection of the LT. In conclusion, the findings of the current study indicated no relation of IL-10 levels during LT rejection.

Antibody-Mediated Rejection in Liver Transplantation: Immuno-Pathological Characteristics and Long-Term Follow-Up.

The diagnosis of liver antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) is challenging and likely under-recognized. The association of AMR with donor-specific antibodies (DSA), and its clinical course in relation to pathologic findings and treatment are ill defined. We identified cases of liver AMR by following the criteria outlined by the 2016 Banff Working Group. Patient demographics, native liver disease, histopathologic findings, treatment type, clinical outcome, and transaminase levels during AMR diagnosis, treatment, and resolution were determined. Patients (n = 8) with AMR average age was 55.2years (range: 19-68). Seven of eight cases met the Banff criteria for AMR. Personalized treatment regimens consisted of optimization of immunosuppression, intravenous pulse steroids, plasmapheresis, IVIG, rituximab, and bortezomib. Five patients experienced complete resolution of AMR, return of transaminases to baseline, and decreased DSA at long-term follow-up. One patient developed chronic AMR and two patients required re-transplantation. Follow-up after AMR diagnosis ranged from one to 11years. Because AMR can present at any time, crossmatch, early biopsy, and routine monitoring of DSA levels should be implemented following transaminase elevation to recognize AMR. Furthermore, treatment should be immediately implemented to reverse AMR and prevent graft failure, chronic damage, re-transplantation, and possibly mortality.

A real-world disproportionality analysis of cyclosporine from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database.

Cyclosporine is an immunosuppressant used to prevent organ rejection in kidney, liver, and heart allogeneic transplants. This study aimed to assess the safety of cyclosporine through the analysis of adverse events (AEs) related to cyclosporine in the US Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). To detect AEs associated with cyclosporine, a pharmacovigilance analysis was conducted using four algorithms on the FAERS database: reporting odds ratio (ROR), proportional reporting ratio (PRR), Bayesian confidence propagation neural network (BCPNN), and empirical Bayes geometric mean (EBGM). A statistical analysis was performed on data extracted from the FAERS database, covering 19,582 case reports spanning from 2013 to 2022. Among these cases, 3,911 AEs were identified, with 476 linked to cyclosporine as the primary suspected drug. Cyclosporin-induced AEs targeted 27 System Organ Classes (SOCs). Notably, the highest case at the SOC level included eye disorders, injury, poisoning, and procedural complications, as well as immune system disorders, all of which are listed on the cyclosporine label. Furthermore, we discovered novel potential AEs associated with hepatobiliary disorders, among others. Moreover, unexpected adverse drug reactions (ADRs), such as biliary anastomosis complication and spermatozoa progressive motility decrease, were identified. Importantly, these newly identified ADRs were not mentioned on the cyclosporine label, which were involved in injury, poisoning, and procedural complications, and investigations at the SOC level. The study used pharmacovigilance analysis of FAERS database to identify new and unexpected potential ADRs relating to cyclosporine, which can provide safety tips for the safe use of cyclosporine.

Immunologic barriers in liver transplantation: a single-cell analysis of the role of mesenchymal stem cells.

This study aimed to analyze the biomarkers that may reliably indicate rejection or tolerance and the mechanism that underlie the induction and maintenance of liver transplantation (LT) tolerance related to immunosuppressant or mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). LT models of Lewis-Lewis and F344-Lewis rats were established. Lewis-Lewis rats model served as a control (Syn). F344-Lewis rats were treated with immunosuppressant alone (Allo+IS) or in combination with MSCs (Allo+IS+MSCs). Intrahepatic cell composition particularly immune cells was compared between the groups by single-cell sequencing. Analysis of subclusters, KEGG pathway analysis, and pseudotime trajectory analysis were performed to explore the potential immunoregulatory mechanisms of immunosuppressant alone or combined with MSCs. Immunosuppressants alone or combined with MSCs increases the liver tolerance, to a certain extent. Single-cell sequencing identified intrahepatic cell composition signature, including cell subpopulations of B cells, cholangiocytes, endothelial cells, erythrocytes, hepatic stellate cells, hepatocytes, mononuclear phagocytes, neutrophils, T cells, and plasmacytoid dendritic cells. Immunosuppressant particularly its combination with MSCs altered the landscape of intrahepatic cells in transplanted livers, as well as gene expression patterns in immune cells. MSCs may be included in the differentiation of T cells, classical monocytes, and non-classical monocytes. These findings provided novel insights for better understanding the heterogeneity and biological functions of intrahepatic immune cells after LT treated by IS alone or in combination with MSCs. The identified markers of immune cells may serve as the immunotherapeutic targets for MSC treatment of liver transplant rejection.

RNA-Sequencing Analysis and Expression of Lymphocyte-Specific Protein Tyrosine Kinase, Linker for Activation of T Cells, and 70-kDa T-Cell Receptor Zeta-Chain Associated Protein Kinase in Rat Liver Transplant Rejection.

The prevention and treatment of liver transplant rejection remain challenging. We investigated the pathophysiological mechanisms of liver transplant rejection in rats and screened candidate genes to determine their degree of rejection response for possible development of potential therapeutic targets. Brown Norway-Brown Norway transplant tolerant models and Lewis-Brown Norway transplant rejection models were established. We collected liver tissue and venous blood at 7 days posttransplant for hematoxylin and eosin staining and RNA sequencing analysis, respectively. We conducted differential expression gene analysis, KEGG and GO enrichment analysis. We performed immunohistochemistry to detect highly expressed immunerelated proteins, including lymphocyte-specific protein tyrosine kinase, linker for activation of T cells, and 70-kDa T-cell receptor zeta-chain-associated protein kinase. Significant differences were found in liver function and Banff scores between rejection and tolerant groups, indicating the successful establishment of liver transplant models. RNA-sequencing screened 7521 differentially expressed genes, with 3355 upregulated and 3058 downregulated. KEGG analysis of upregulated genes showed that 8 of the top 20 enrichment pathways were associated with immune system processes and 5 were related to immune system diseases. Among these immune pathways, 289 genes were upregulated; of these, 147 genes were removed after comparison with the IMMPORT database, of which 97 genes were significantly changed. Our GO analysis showed upregulated genes mainly participating in immune response processes, with downregulated genes mainly participating in metabolic processes. Real-time polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry verified expression of the immune-related proteins, consistent with RNAsequencing results, which were mainly expressed in inflammatory cells in sinus and portal vein. Immune-related genes were found to be associated with liver transplant rejection. The 3 immune-related genes that we analyzed may play a role in liver transplant rejection and can possibly serve as candidate markers for monitoring the degree of liver transplant rejection.

Detrimental impact of early biopsy-proven rejection in liver transplantation.

Existing literature offers conflicting conclusions about whether early acute cellular rejection influences long-term outcomes in liver transplantation. We retrospectively collected donor and recipient data on all adult, first-time liver transplants performed at a single center between 2008 and 2020. We divided this population into two cohorts based on the presence of early biopsy-proven acute cellular rejection (EBPR) within the first 90 days post-transplant and compared outcomes between the groups. There were 896 liver transplants that met inclusion criteria with 112 cases (12.5%) of EBPR. Recipients who developed EBPR had higher biochemical Model for End-Stage Liver Disease scores (28vs. 24, p<.01), but other donor and recipient characteristics were similar. Recipients with EBPR had similar overall survival compared to patients without EBPR (p=.09) but had decreased graft survival (p<.05). EBPR was also associated with decreased time to first episode of late (>90 days post-transplant) rejection (p<.0001) and increased vulnerability to bacterial and viral infection (p<.05). In subgroup analysis of recipients with autoimmune indications for liver transplantation, EBPR had a more pronounced association with patient death (hazard ratio [HR] 3.9, p<.05) and graft loss (HR 4.0, p<.01). EBPR after liver transplant is associated with inferior graft survival, increased susceptibility to late rejections, and increased vulnerability to infection.