THE RISK OF EARLY LIVER ALLOGRAFT DYSFUNCTION IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE TLR-4 GENE GENOTYPE IN THE RS913930 SEQUENCE AND IS IMPLEMENTED VIA HMGB1 NUCLEAR PROTEIN, KUPFFER CELLS AND IL-23 ACTIVATION

Abstract

Aim. To evaluate the associations of genotypes of clinically relevant nucleotides rs11536865, rs913930 and rs5030717 of the TLR-4 gene with the risk of development and severity of early allograft dysfunction after liver transplantation. Materials and methods. A case-control study enrolling 71 patients was organized. Inclusion criteria: DBD liver transplantation. Exclusion criteria: living related liver transplantation, reduced graft transplantation, recipient’s age fewer than 18. Results. Within rs5030717 there were identifi ed three genotypes: AA (81.6%) and two genotypes with the minor G-allele: AG (12.6%) and GG (5.6%). Within rs913930 there identi- fi ed three genotypes: TT (59.1%) and two genotypes with the minor C-allele: C/T (29.5%) and CC (11.2%). The rs11536865 studying revealed no polymorphism (GG genotype). The early allograft liver dysfunction (EAD) developed in 19.7% of patients, the severe EAD in 11.2% of patients, septic complications in 14%, acute cellular rejection in 23.9% of cases. The C/T genotype of the TLR-4 gene in the SNP rs913930 sequence was closely associated with the EAD development (OR 4.8 to 1; p = 0.047; 95% CI 1–23.4). Рatients with the donor’s liver C/T genotype had a reliably higher proportion (%) of the HMGB1 positive hepatocytes in the donor’s bioptate, 21 (17–29%) vs the СС+TT genotypes, 16 (10–19%) (Mann–Whitney test, p = 0.01). The CD68 expression in the liver bioptate at the donor’s stage was reliably higher in the carriers of heterozygotes in the SNP rs913930 (C/T genotype) and in the SNP rs5030717 (AG genotype), (Mann–Whitney test, p = 0.03). Signifi cant positive correlation between the CD68 expression in the donor’s liver bioptates and the IL-23 level in the hepatic vein has been determined in an hour after the portal reperfusion (ρ = 0.62; p = 0.04) as well as between the HMGB1 expression in the donor’s liver bioptates and the АSТ level in 24 hours after the reperfusion (r = 0.4; p = 0.02). The HMGB1 staining in the donor’s liver bioptates was higher in the EAD patients, 21 (20; 29) cells/mm2 in comparison with the patients without EAD, 16 (12; 18) (Mann–Whitney test, p = 0.0036). Conclusion. The early allograft liver dysfunction is associated with the genetic predisposition caused by the TLR-4 gene polymorphism and is implemented via the HMGB1, Kupffer cells and IL-23 activation.

Keywords

• liver transplantation
• allograft dysfunction
• gene polymorphism
• tlr-4
• kupffer cells