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Keywords:

  • frozen fresh plasma;
  • hepatectomy;
  • IL-12;
  • soluble HLA;
  • transfusion

Abstract

Background:  Interleukin-12 (IL-12) has been shown to enhance the cytotoxic activity of NK cells and CTL. IL-12 also acts as a growth factor for activated NK, T and NKT cells. The soluble HLA class I (sHLA-I) has been reported to bind a killer-cell inhibitory receptor, which is expressed on the NK cell, and its signals inhibit NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Effects of fresh frozen plasma (FFP) on post-operative immune status have not yet been completely examined.

Methods:  Thirty consecutive patients taking a hepatectomy were enrolled. The levels of IL-12 and sHLA-I were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results:  The rate of complication after hepatectomy in the FFP-administered patients was higher than that in patients without FFP administration (P= 0.0358). Decreased IL-12 levels after surgery in patients without FFP administration recovered to the preoperative state earlier than those in patients with FFP administration (P < 0.05). The levels of sHLA-I in the FFP-administered patients were higher than those in the patients without FFP administration (P < 0.05).

Conclusions:  Administration of FFP, which contains sHLA-I, affected the levels of sHLA-I after hepatectomy. Both high levels of sHLA-I and low levels of IL-12 could attenuate NK activities after hepatectomy, especially when FFP would be administered.