Organ Transplantation Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Organ Transplantation, including details on risks, prognosis, procedure, surgery.

Cytokine profile after lung transplantation: correlation with allograft injury.

Mathur A, Baz M, Staples ED, Bonnell M, Speckman JM, Hess PJ, Klodell CT, Knauf DG, Moldawer LL, Beaver TM

Division of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.

BACKGROUND: Post-lung transplant reperfusion edema (PLTRE) and its more severe form, primary graft failure (PGF), occur in 10% to 60% of lung transplant recipients. We hypothesized that PLTRE and PGF would be associated with an elevated proinflammatory cascade and that the allograft would be the source of cytokine appearance in the circulation. METHODS: Pulmonary arterial and systemic arterial samples were obtained at baseline and at 4, 8, and 24 hours after reperfusion. Post-lung transplant reperfusion-edema and PGF were defined as PaO2/FiO2 less than 300 with a mild or moderate infiltrate, or less than 200 with a severe infiltrate and ventilator dependence after 72 hours, respectively. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and IL-10 concentrations were determined by immunoassay. RESULTS: Fifteen single and 6 bilateral lung recipients were studied. Six (29%) had PLTRE and 4 (19%) had PGF; these patients had an overall elevation in plasma IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 concentrations (all p < 0.05). Subgroup analysis revealed a significantly greater elevation in IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 levels in PGF patients (all p < 0.01) versus PLTRE. In the PGF group, TNFalpha and IL-10 concentrations were significantly greater in the systemic versus the pulmonary arterial samples (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with PLTRE and PGF exhibited graded increases in IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 concentrations. The PGF patients had higher TNFalpha and IL-10 systemic arterial concentrations overall, consistent with the allograft being a source of this cytokine production.

Published 24 April 2006 in Ann Thorac Surg, 81(5): 1844-9; discussion 1849-50.
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