Objective:To observe the dynamic changes of chemokine IP-10 and its soluble receptor CXCR3 in bile,and to explore its relationship with acute graft rejection (AR) after liver transplantation.Methods: A total of 28 patients who underwent orthotopic liver transplantation in our hospital between October 2007 and March 2008 were included in the present study.They were divided into 2 groups according to the presence of AR: AR(n=8) and NAR(n=20).Another 10 patients who underwent endoscopic nasobiliary drainage (ENBD) for cholelithiasis in our hospital served as controls.The levels of chemokine IP-10 and sCXCR3 in the bile were determined by ELISA assay on 1,3,5,and 7 days after transplantation in all the patients and on 1,3,and 7 days after the anti-rejection therapy with glucocorticoid in patients of AR group; the relationship between their levels and the rejection active index (RAI) obtained by Banff criteria were evaluated; and its diagnostic value for AR was assessed.Results: The levels of IP-10 and sCXCR3 in bile gradually increased after liver transplantation and reached the peak on the 5th day after transplantation,and starting from day 5 after transplantation,their levels were significantly higher in the AR group than in the NAR group and ENBD group (P<0.05).Besides,the levels of IP-10 and sCXCR3 in bile were significantly decreased after treatment with glucocorticoid (P<0.05).On the day of AR diagnosis,the the levels of IP-10 and sCXCR3 in bile were significantly correlated with RAI (P<0.05).On the 5th day after transplantation,the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of IP-10 level for AR were 87.5% and 100%,respectively (cut-off point=964.45 pg/ml); on the 7th day after transplantation,the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of sCXCR3 were 87.5% and 80%,respectively (cut-off point=819.35 pg/ml).Conclusion: The levels of IP-10 and sCXCR3 in bile are closed related with early graft acute rejection,and their levels may serve as a non-invasive diagnostic indicator for AR and outcome of anti-rejection therapy.