Aim: To analyze the expression levels of interferon gamma (IFN-gamma), interleukin 10 (IL-10), and transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta1) mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in liver transplanted recipients with active HCMV infection.
Methods: PBMCs were isolated from 20 liver transplanted recipients with active HCMV infection and 20 recipients without HCMV infection. The expression levels of IFN-gamma, IL-10 and TGF-beta1 mRNA in PBMCs were measured by TaqMan real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The results were compared with that from 20 healthy individuals.
Results: The expression level of TGF-beta1 mRNA was significantly increased in the active HCMV infection group compared with that in stable group or healthy group (P < .001). The expression level of IL-10 mRNA was significantly increased in the active HCMV infection group compared with the healthy group (P = .001). However, the IFN-gamma mRNA expression level was significantly decreased in the active HCMV infection group compared with that in the stable group or the healthy group (P < .05).
Conclusion: Cytokine production plays a role in the HCMV infection. This may provide an important clue to a better understanding of the pathogenesis in liver transplanted recipients with active HCMV infection.