Abstract:

BACKGROUND: The long term use of immunosuppressive agents in recipients of liver transplantation would result in decreased immune function and may affect the body's clearance of hepatitis B virus. 
OBJECTIVE: To analyze the relationship between FK506 concentration and hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of the patients who underwent liver transplantation for HBV-related end-stage liver disease.
METHODS: Twenty-three patients with HBV-related end-stage liver disease who underwent liver transplantation from January 2009 to December 2009 were divided into FK506-high concentration (≥10 ng/mL) group (n=9) and FK506-low concentration group (< 10 ng/mL) group (n = 14) at 12 weeks after liver transplantation. At the same time, the copies of HBV DNA in PBMC and T-cell subsets (CD3⁺CD4⁺, CD3⁺CD8⁺, CD8⁺CD28⁺, CD8⁺CD152⁺) were determined respectively using real time fluorescent quantitative PCR combined with fluorescein-labelled monoclonal antibodies and flow cytometer.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: At 12 weeks after liver transplantation, the percentage of CD3⁺CD4⁺, CD3⁺CD8⁺, CD8⁺CD28⁺ in the FK506-high concentration group was significantly lower, and the percentage of CD8⁺CD152⁺ was significantly higher, compared with the FK506-low concentration group (P < 0.05). HBV DNA in the PBMC was significantly higher in the FK506-high concentration group than in the FK506-low concentration group (P < 0.05). Multiple linear regression of correlation of HBV DNA in PBMC and T-lymphocyte subsets after liver transplantation showed that HBV DNA was closely correlated with CD8+CD28+, CD8⁺CD152⁺. HBV DNA was significantly positively correlated with CD8⁺CD152⁺ and was negatively correlated with CD8+CD28+. Variance of FK506 concentration could suppress the expression of CD3⁺CD4⁺, CD3⁺CD8⁺, CD8⁺CD28⁺T-lymphocyte subsets and upregulate the expression of CD8⁺CD152⁺ T-lymphocyte subsets, which could inhibit cell immunity and affect HBV clearance in PBMC.