Changes in phospholipid composition of the mitochondrial membrane after orthotopic liver transplantation.

Changes in phospholipids and their fatty acid composition in liver mitochondria obtained from allogenic rats with orthotopic liver transplants were measured with and without immunosuppressive treatment. In untreated allogenic rats, mitochondrial phosphorylation activity was severely deteriorated at 8 days after transplantation. A significant change was also found in the amount of cardiolipin compared with other classes of phospholipids. Namely, cardiolipin decreased, and lysodiphosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylglycerol increased concomitantly. Furthermore, the percentage of linoleic acid in cardiolipin decreased dramatically. Decrease in cardiolipin and changes in its fatty acid composition may be attributed to the deterioration of mitochondrial function upon acute rejection.