Development of microRNA signatures for acute rejection after liver transplantation using rat model

To find out acute rejection (AR) associated microRNAs, we have employed Agilent microRNA microarray as a discovery platform to identify microRNAs with the potential to distinguish AR from controls. We first established a rat Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) model with AR, using Brown Norway (BN) rats that received OLT with liver grafts from Lewis rats (Lewis to BN). OLT with BN rats as the donors and recipients were also performed (BN to BN), and these rats served as the control group (non-rejection group, NR group). Then, global microRNA expression profiles of the plasma and grafts were evaluated and validated with high throughout microarray and RT-qPCR. Lewis to BN (AR group) and BN to BN (control) OLT were carried out with 4 rats in each group. All the 8 rats were sacrificed on the 7th day after OLT. Plasma and liver grafts were obtained and RNA were extracted for microarray hybridization. The differential expression profiles of plasma level and graft level were obtained via group comparision.