microRNA signatures in peripheral blood fail to detect acute cellular rejection after liver transplantation

Abstract

Objective: We investigated whether microRNA signatures in whole blood samples are associated with acute cellular rejection (ACR) after liver transplantation.

Materials and methods: Blood samples were collected using Paxgene technology and analyzed by microarrays and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR).

Results: microRNA signatures failed to distinguish between 19 patients with ACR and 16 controls. Let-7b-5p and let-7c were upregulated in a subgroup of patients with ACR during the 6th and 7th postoperative days but failed in an independent validation of 20 patients.

Conclusion: microRNA signatures in whole blood processed by Paxgene technology are not suited for the detection of ACR after liver transplantation.

Keywords:

• Allograft
• biomarker
• Paxgene

Acknowledgements

The authors thank all patients for their participation in the study. Moreover, we thank Dr. Ruth Neuhaus, Stephanie König, Peter Tang, and all nurses and physicians involved in care of the patients.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.