Correlation between interleukin-15 and granzyme B expression and acute lung allograft rejection

Ruili Shi, Junbao Yang, Andrés Jaramillo, Nancy S. Steward, Aviva Aloush, Elbert P. Trulock, G. Alexander Patterson, Manikkam Suthanthiran, T. Mohanakumar

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

26 Scopus citations

Abstract

The levels of interleukin (IL)-15 and granzyme B mRNA expression have been correlated with acute rejection episodes of kidney and heart allografts. Thus, the purpose of this study was to determine whether a correlation exists between the expression of IL-15 and granzyme B and acute lung allograft rejection. Toward this, the levels of IL-15 and granzyme B mRNA expression were determined in bronchoalveolar lavage-derived alveolar macrophages and total cells, respectively, from lung transplant patients with stable lung allograft function and patients undergoing acute rejection episodes. The expression levels of IL-15 mRNA was significantly higher in the patients undergoing acute rejection as compared to patients with stable lung function (P = 0.02). The expression levels of granzyme B mRNA was also significantly higher in the patients undergoing acute rejection as compared to patients with stable lung function (P = 0.005). The Receiver-Operating-Characteristic curve demonstrated that acute rejection can be predicted with a sensitivity of 94% and specificity of 67% with the use of a cutoff value of 3.1 fg of granzyme B mRNA per microgram of total RNA (or 71% sensitivity and 75% specificity of a cutoff value of 9.1 fg/μg). These data indicate that IL-15 secreted by activated alveolar macrophages and granzyme B secreted by activated CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes play important roles in the process of acute lung allograft rejection.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)103-108
Number of pages6
JournalTransplant Immunology
Volume12
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2004

Keywords

  • Acute allograft rejection
  • Granzyme B
  • Interleukin-15
  • Lung transplantation

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