Proinflammatory and Anti-Inflammatory Cytokine Balance in Patients With Cirrhotic Hepatitis During Live-Donor Liver Transplant

Abstract

Objectives: The immune system releases cytokines during the stress response, and the balance between proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines is important. This prospective study was done to determine which cytokines are responsible for maintaining cytokine balance during live-donor liver transplant surgery.

Materials and Methods: Recipients undergoing live-donor liver transplant surgery due to cirrhotic hepatitis were allocated to a recipient group (n=44), and healthy donors were placed in the donor group (n=45). In donors, blood sampling for cytokine level analysis was performed after anesthetic induction (before the start of surgery, time point 1). In recipients, blood samples were collected before the start of surgery (time point 1), 60 minutes after the start of the anhepatic period (time point 2), and 60 minutes after reperfusion (time point 3). The proinflammatory cytokines measured were interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α; the anti-inflammatory cytokines were interleukin-10 and interleukin-4. Cytokines were quantified using sandwich enzyme-linked immunoassays. The time course of proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokine concentrations during surgery in the recipient group was evaluated.

Results: Interleukin-6, interleukin-10 and tumor necrosis factor-α showed significant changes in concentration during surgery, with interleukin-6 reaching levels 40 times higher than the preoperative value at the anhepatic stage. Interleukin-10 reached a peak at the neohepatic phase, with values 60 times higher than the preoperative value. The preoperative concentrations of interleukin-6 and interleukin-10 in the recipient group were higher than those in the donor group with a median of 4.48 vs 1.98 pg/mL (P < .001) and 2.98 vs 1.22 (P = .026).

Conclusions: Interleukin-6 and interleukin-10 play a major role in cytokine balance before and during live-donor liver transplant surgery.