Study of the relationships between IL-23R, IL-17, IL-21 polymorphisms and serum level of IL-17, IL-21 with acute graft rejection in iranian liver transplant recipients.

Cytokines are important factors determining the outcome of transplantation. Since host ability in cytokine production may be affected by cytokine genes polymorphisms, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of IL-17, IL-23R and IL-21 gene polymorphisms in outcome of liver transplantation. A total of 200 liver transplant recipients were included in this study. IL-17 -197 A/G, IL-21+1472 G/T, IL-21 5250 C/T, and IL-23R C/A polymorphisms were evaluated by PCR-RFLP or ARMS-PCR methods. The serum levels of IL-17 and IL-21 in rejected and non-rejected groups were determined by ELISA method. The results showed that IL-23R AC carriers and C allele were significantly more frequent in patients with acute rejection than patients without rejection (p=0.01 and p=0.0005, respectively). After gender classification, IL-23R AA and AC carriers were significantly more frequent in female patients (p=0.01, p=0.01, respectively) and IL-23R AA and AC carriers and A allele were significantly more frequent in male patients (p=0.009, p=0.02, p=0.003, respectively). There is a significant association between CC genotype and C alleles of IL-23R and AR in the patients receiving allograft from living donor (p=0.0003 and p=0.0008, respectively). Also, IL-23R AA and AC genotypes and C alleles showed a significant association with rejection in patients receiving allograft from cadaver donor (p=0.001, p=0.002 and p=0.02). The mentioned results indicate that IL-23R AC carriers and C allele have predictive values for acute rejection. AC genotype and C allele of IL-23R is a genetic risk factor for development of acute rejection. Also, AA and AC genotype of IL-23R is a sex dependent genetic risk factor for development of acute rejection. But this subject needs to be studied in different population.