[Perforin and granzyme B as an early indicator for acute rejection of pancreatic transplantation]

To assess the value of perforin mRNA and granzyme B mRNA in lymphocytes as an early diagnostic indicator for acute rejection of pancreatic transplantation.

Twenty-four hybrid landraces were divided into three groups (control group, transplantation group, transplantation plus immunosuppressant group) randomly. The landraces in the transplantation group were treated with pancreatoduodenal allotranplantation. The landraces in the transplantation plus immunosuppressant group underwent the same surgery and were intervened simultaneously with CsA, MMF, and Metrisone. Peripheral venous bloods were sampled via subclavic veins one day before the operations and on the 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th day after the operations. The RNA was extracted from the blood samples. The mRNA of perforin and granzyme B expressed in the lymphocytes were detected by RT-PCR. The serum glucose, insulin and glucagons were also measured with routine methods. The pancreatic graft tissues were collected for pathologic examinations at the 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th day after the operations.

No differences in serum glucose, insulin and glucagons had been detected among the three groups (P>0.05). The landraces in the transplantation plus immunosuppressant group had significantly lower expression of the mRNA of perforin and granzyme B in the lymphocytes and the local transplanted pancreas than those in the transplantation group (P<0.05). The change of mRNA expression of perforin and granzyme B in the lymphocytes occurred 2-4 days earlier than the pathological changes when the acute rejection started.

Monitoring the change of mRNA expression of perforin and granzyme B in the lymphocytes from the peripheral blood can help the early diagnosis of acute rejection of pancreatic transplantation.