Pretransplant Immune- and Apoptosis-Related Gene Expression Is Associated with Kidney Allograft Function

Abstract

Renal transplant candidates present immune dysregulation, caused by chronic uremia. The aim of the study was to investigate whether pretransplant peripheral blood gene expression of immune factors affects clinical outcome of renal allograft recipients.Methods. In a prospective study, we analyzed pretransplant peripheral blood gene expression in87 renal transplant candidates with real-time PCR on custom-designed low density arrays (TaqMan).Results. Immediate posttransplant graft function (14-day GFR) was influenced negatively byTGFB1(P=0.039) and positively byIL-2gene expression (P=0.040). Pretransplant blood mRNA expression of apoptosis-related genes (CASP3,FAS,andIL-18) and Th1-derived cytokine geneIFNGcorrelated positively with short- (6-month GFRCASP3:P=0.027,FAS:P=0.021, andIFNG:P=0.029) and long-term graft function (24-month GFRCASP3:P=0.003,FAS:P=0.033,IL-18:P=0.044, andIFNG:P=0.04).Conclusion. Lowered pretransplant Th1-derived cytokine and apoptosis-related gene expressions were a hallmark of subsequent worse kidney function but not of acute rejection rate. The pretransplantIFNGandCASP3andFASandIL-18genes’ expression in the recipients’ peripheral blood is the possible candidate for novel biomarker of short- and long-term allograft function.