Serum T-Lymphocyte Cytokines Cannot Predict Early Acute Rejection in Renal Transplantation

Despite numerous studies, the precise role of Th1/Th2 cytokines in acute renal
allograft rejection remains unclear. To provide insight into the role of cytokines in
acute allograft rejection, we measured serum T-cell cytokine concentrations for
correlation with clinical events after renal transplantation in adults. Serum Th1
(interleukin-2 [IL-2] and interferon-gamma [IFN�] and Th2 (IL-4, IL-10) cytokine
concentrations were measured in 60 consecutive living donor kidney transplant
recipients namely, 40 males, overall mean age 38.82 years), on the day before as well
as 7 and 14 days posttransplantation using ELISA. Patients were stratified based upon
acute rejection episode (ARE) in the first month after transplantation. Immunosuppression
consisted of cyclosporine, mycophenolate mofetil, and prednisolone. ARE
was diagnosed based on an increased plasma creatinine of more than 50%, sonographic
analysis, radioisotope scan, pathologic findings, or measured cyclosporine blood levels.
Twelve ARE were diagnosed among patients (20%). There was no significant
difference between the 2 groups with respect to the mean serum concentration values
of IL-2, IL-10, IL-4, and IFN� on the day before or 7 or 14 days after transplantation.
This study showed that there was no correlation between the Th1/Th2 serum cytokine
profiles and early ARE in living donor kidney transplantation.