Biomarkers : biochemical indicators of exposure, response, and susceptibility to chemicals
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Primary graft dysfunction and rejection are common complications in lung transplant recipients. Increased expression of thioredoxin-1 (Trx), a 12-kDa redox-regulatory protein, has been reported in multiple lung pathophysiological conditions involving oxidative and inflammatory mediated injury including graft rejection in canine and rat models of lung transplantation. Our objective was to determine whether increased Trx expression is associated with progression of rejection pathophysiology in human lung transplant recipients. ⋯ Total ischaemic time and days on ventilator in rejection and non-rejection groups were comparable. However, Trx levels were significantly elevated in BAL cells from graft-rejecting patients compared with non-rejecting patients (p <0.05). These data suggest that surveillance monitoring of BAL Trx levels after lung transplantation can serve as a biomarker to assess severity of graft rejection.