J.Jpn. Surg. Soc.. 94(8): 801-808, 1993

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Original article

DNA ANALYSIS OF PERIPHERAL BLOOD MONONUCLEAR CELLS FOR EARLY DETECTION OF HEPATIC GRAFT REJECTION

We evaluated the significance of flow cytometric DNA content measurement of peripheral blood mononuclearcells for early detection of hepatic allograft rejection. A total of 15 orthotopic liver transplantation was performed using canine model. Animals were divided in two groups consisting of 5 dogs as untreated controls, and administered cyclosporine (n=6) or FK506 (n=4). Blood mononuclear cells DNA contents were analyzed by Propidium iodine method using FACScan.
In untreated controls (n=5), SG2M% of the mononuclear cells value significantly elevated on day 5 or 6 to 15.6±0.7% (mean±SE) compaired to pretransplantation value (10.2±0.6%) (p＜0.01). At the time of SG2M% elevation, microscopic examination of the graft revealed acute mild rejection. These changes in SG2M% and histological finding were observed one or two days earlier than biochemical changes indicative of liver injury.
On the other hand, non-rejected case under sufficient immunosuppression, SG2M% remained low levels (3.8±1.1%) in comparison with pretransplant values (8.8±0.6%) (p＜0.05). The rejecting cases under insufficient immunosuppression, SG2M% significantly elevated to 13.6±1.3% (p＜0.01). When steroid pulse therapy was successfully performed, it subsequently decreased to 5.6±0.7% (p＜0.01), and histological rejection reaction was disappeared.
We concluded that serial measurement of DNA content of peripheral blood mononuclear cells may serve as an useful means for monitoring the immunological status of hepatic recipients.

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