Objective：To investigate the expression of TNF-α and IL-2 in acute rejection of liver transplantation and evaluate their value as predictive indicators of acute rejection.
Methods：After orthotopic liver transplantation models was established in rats, real-time fluorescent quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect the gene expression of TNF-α and IL-2 in the transplanted liver. The relationship between TNF-α/IL-2 expression and acute rejection was analyzed based on histopathological standard of acute rejection.
Results：On day 3,5 and 7 after transplantation, acute rejection occurred in the graft of all allogenic transplantation rats, and the mean levels of TNF-α and IL-2 in liver tissues were significantly higher in allogenic transplantation group than those in syngenic transplantation group.
Conclusions：TNF-α and IL-2 expression are related to the development of acute rejection after liver transplantation, and may be used as sensitive and reliable accessory indicators in detecting acute rejection.