Prediction of Biliary Complications After Living-Donor Liver Transplantation Based on Serum Cytokine Profile

Biliary tract complications are the main concern associated with living-donor liver transplantation (LDLT). Many laboratory parameters have been studied for the early detection of post-LDLT complications, including various cytokines. To explore immunologic activation status and its clinical significance, the cytokine secretion patterns of LDLT patients who developed biliary complications were analyzed. Serum samples from LDLT recipients were collected 1 day before and 3, 7, 14, and 30 days after transplantation. Each sample was tested for interleukin (IL) 2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12, interferon-α, and tumor necrosis factor α with the use of multiplex bead flow cytometry. Fifteen patients without any complications and 6 patients with biliary complications showed differential serum cytokine profiles. The biliary complication group (4 biliary stricture and 2 biliary obstruction patients) displayed significantly increased concentrations of IL-2 and IL-12 on post-transplantation days 3 and 7 and of IL-4 on post-transplantation day 7. Profiling cytokine secretion in the serum of patients in the first month of LDLT may be helpful for the prediction and diagnosis of biliary complications within 1 year.