evaluation of interleukin-21, 23 and 27 mrna expression and protein level in liver transplant patients

Cytokines have prominent roles in activating of different t cells and shifting the immune response, in this study the role of three cytokines (il-21, il-23 and il-27) is investigated in the liver transplant rejection. three edta-treated blood samples were collected from each liver transplanted patient in 1st, 4th and 7th day of post-transplantation. the expression level of the mentioned cytokines was determined using real-time pcr for all samples. also, the serum levels of cytokines were determined using elisa tests. in acute rejection (ar) group (51 patients), mrna expression pattern of il-21and il-23 showed a steady increase, but this pattern was converse for il-27. our results in non-acute rejection (non-ar) group (54 patients) showed an elevation in day 4 and then a decrease in day 7 for il-21 and il-23 genes. this pattern was converse again for il-27 gene. in comparison between the two groups, in all 3 sampling times the mean of mrna expression level of il-21 and il-23, showed an increase in ar group which this increase was significant for il-21 in the 3rd (p=0.007) and for il-23 in 2nd (p=0.048) and 3rd (p=0.049) sampling time, but the pattern of mrna expression for il-27 was contrary to the results of il-21 and il-23. furthermore, elisa technique also, showed the serum level changes the same as cytokines. in this study il-21 and il-23 showed pro-inflammatory properties in the liver transplant rejected patients. also, il-27 having different expression pattern, showed anti-inflammatory behavior which needs more considerations in future.