Purine and Cytokine Concentrations in the Renal Vein of the Allograft During Reperfusion

The impairment of organ function derived from ischemia-reperfusion injury is still an important problem in solid organ transplantation. Cell alterations induced by ischemia prime the tissue for subsequent damage during the reperfusion phase. The aim of present study was to examine the association between changes in cytokine and purine metabolite concentrations in graft renal vein during reperfusion. The study included 17 recipients of cadaveric renal grafts: 10 men and seven women of overall mean age of 49 ± 7 years and cold ischemia time 25 ± 3 hour. The levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, interferon (INF)-γ, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-β, and TNF-α in renal graft vein plasma during 5 first minutes of reperfusion were quantified by flow cytometry. Increased concentrations of IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1β were observed during reperfusion. The IFN-γ concentrations correlated negatively with xanthine (Xan) concentrations in renal vein blood during reperfusion, whereas there was a positive correlation between IL-2 and Xan concentrations. Moreover, the concentrations of IL-6 and IL-10 correlated negatively with hypoxanthine concentrations, and the concentrations of IL-4 also correlated negatively with Xan concentrations. The results of this study indicated the enhanced release of some cytokines during kidney graft reperfusion. It occurred in association with release of purine metabolites—the markers of energy status of renal tissue. Therefore, the enhanced cytokine production during reperfusion might influence ischemia-reperfusion injury and the early graft function.