OBJECTIVETo analyze the correlation between survival time after liver transplantation and the intracellular (i)ATP levels of CD4+ T cells.

METHODSLiver transplantation patients treated in our hospital,and with complete follow-up data,were enrolled retrospectively in our study (between July 2010 to October 2012) and divided into six groups according to survival time: less than 1 year,1-2 years,2-3 years,3-4 years,4-8 years,and more than 8 years.The less than 1 year survival group was further sub-divided for survival less than 1 month,1-2 months,2-3 months,3-5 months and 5-12 months.Blood samples collected from all enrollees (n=273) were analyzed by the Cylex ImmuKnow Cell Function Assay to detect the iATP level in CD4+ T cells.Correlation of iATP level in CD4+ T cells with survival time was statistically analyzed.

RESULTSThe levels of CD4+ T cell-iATP were significantly different among the various survival recipient groups by years: less than 1 year:325+228 ng/ml,1-2 years:216-147 ng/ml,2-3 years:225-172 ng/ml,3-5 years:236-184 ng/ml,4-8 years:298-145 ng/ml,more than 8 years:323-153 ng/ml.In addition,the levels of CD4+ T cell-iATP were significantly different between the groups of patients who survived less than 1 year: less than 1 month:441+255 ng/ml,1-2 months:357-235 ng/ml,2-3 months:353-257 ng/ml,3-5 months:202-123 ng/ml,5-12 months:234-145 ng/ml.

CONCLUSIONThere is a relationship between levels of iATP in CD4+ T cells and survival time after liver transplantation.For patients with postoperative survival time of less than 1 year,the CD4+ T cell iATP level will not accurately reflect the status of CD4+ T cells' immune activation.For patients with postoperative survival time of 2-4 years,the CD4+ T cell-iATP level is relatively low and the CD4+ T lymphocyte activation status is in the low reaction zone.Patients with postoperative survival time of more than 5 years had higher CD4+ T cell-iATP level then 2-4 years survivors,and had stable CD4+ T cell immune activation.