No association between transforming growth factor beta gene polymorphism and acute allograft rejection after cardiac transplantation.

Transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) is a multifunctional cytokine, which inhibits both development of Th1 and Th2 subsets and the Th1 proinflammatory response. TGF-beta1 production is influenced through several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in the structural gene and promoter region. Acute rejection of transplants depends on the Th1/Th2 balance within the graft, high levels of TGF-beta1 shift this balance towards Th2.

Acute cardiac transplant rejection is associated with low frequencies of interleukin-4 producing helper T-lymphocytes rather than with interleukin-4 promoter or splice variants.

Interleukin-4 (IL-4) is a cytokine of the Th2 subtype. It is suggested that Th2 cytokines are involved in induction of tolerance towards the graft after organ transplantation. Therefore, we studied the association between the frequencies of IL-4 producing helper T lymphocytes (IL-4 HTL) and acute rejection in a panel of 31 cardiac transplant patients.

Donor interleukin-4 promoter gene polymorphism influences allograft rejection after heart transplantation.

Background: The cytokine interleukin-4 (IL-4) is secreted mainly by activated T lymphocytes and characterizes the T-helper 2 (Th2) sub-type. In transplantation Th2 cells are believed to induce graft tolerance. Previous studies revealed that patients with a relatively high frequency of IL-4 producing helper T lymphocytes (HTL) before heart transplantation (HTX) had no or less rejection episodes compared with patients with a low frequency of IL-4 producing HTL.