Clinical Significance of Lymphocytes Hepatocyte Growth Factor mRNA Expression in Patients After Liver Transplantation

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doi:10.1016/j.transproceed.2007.08.065 Copyright © 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Liver transplantation

Clinical Significance of Lymphocytes Hepatocyte Growth Factor mRNA Expression in Patients After Liver Transplantation

K. Dudeka O. Kornasiewicza, K. Koziakb, M. Kotulskia, P. Kalinowskia, K. Zieniewicza and M. Krawczyka aDepartment of General, Transplant and Liver Surgery, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, PolandbDepartment of Internal Medicine, Hypertension and Angiology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland. Available online 20 November 2007.

Abstract

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) plays a key role in the regulation of liver regeneration after hepatocyte damage. Changes in HGF gene expression reflect the status of the regeneration process. Aim

The aim of this study was to ascertain the clinical significance of the expression of HGF among liver transplant patients. Methods

Expression of the mRNA of HGF among peripheral blood lymphocytes were measured prior to as well as at 1, 2, 6, and 10 days after liver transplantation in a group of 30 liver recipients. Results

In first 24 hours after reperfusion, the patients with compromised graft function (group 1) showed persistently higher HGF gene expression after reperfusion compared with patients displaying well-functioning grafts (group 0; P = .0189). Between postoperative days 1 and 10, there was a rapid decrease in gene expression among group 0 compared with group 1 (P = .0155). The significant decrease observed in the both groups reached a certain plateau after 48 hours postoperatively. There was no statistical difference in aminotransaminase levels over the days after liver transplantation. The decreased mRNA HGF expression in lymphocytes preceded the decrease in aminotransferase levels. Conclusions

HGF was more sensitive to predict early graft function than prothrombin time, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase levels. The determination of HGF expression level in lymphocytes after liver transplantation may yield valuable information for evaluation of early graft function.

Supported by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education.Address reprint requests to Krzysztof Dudek, Department of General, Transplant and Liver Surgery, Medical University of Warsaw, Banacha 1a, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland.

Transplantation Proceedings Volume 39, Issue 9, November 2007, Pages 2788-2792