Serial monitoring of immunological parameters following human hand transplant

Abstract

Background: Although early successes have been achieved in human hand transplant, the changes of immunological parameters in the recipients and their relations to clinical events were not yet known. Methods: In two patients undergoing hand transplantation, we prospectively determined lymphocyte subsets using flow cytometry as well as the serum levels of interleukin (IL)-2, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and interferon (IFN)-γ using enzyme linked immunosorbent assays during the first 6 months after transplantation. Results: The decreases in CD3+, CD4+, CD8+ T cell, the activated T cell (CD3+/CD25+, CD3+/HLA-DR+) as well as IL-2, IFN-γ and corresponding significant peak in IL-10 in human hand transplant during the first post-transplant week were observed. Then these parameters recovered to the pre-transplant level except for an even higher level of CD8+ T cell. The low CD 4+/CD8+ ratio was been maintained constantly. After 7 wk, IL-2, IFN-γ, and IL-10 decreased to be maintained at a low or undetectable level except for slight increase in IL-10 at post-transplant month 5. There are no significant variation in TNF-α early after transplant. After 3 months, IL-10 was not detected again. Conclusion: The immunosuppressive agents had significantly effects on the immunological status in human hand transplant recipients. These profiles of immunological parameters would be useful data for the future immunomonitoring in human hand transplant recipients. Copyright © Blackwell Munksgaard 2004.