Dynamic Changes of IFN-γ-producing Cells, TGF-β and Their Predictive Value in Early Outcomes of Renal Transplantation

• Published in: International journal of organ transplantation medicine Vol. 4; no. 2; pp. 77 - 85
• Main Authors: F. Mohammadi1, M. H. Niknam1, M. Nafar2, B. Einollahi3, B. Nazari1, M. Lessanpezeshki4, M. A. Amirzargar5, G. Solgi5, B. Nikbin1, A. A. Amirzargar1
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shiraz University of Medical Sciences 01-01-2013
• Subjects: Allograft; IFN-γ; Kidney; TGF-β
• ISSN: 2008-6490; 2008-6482

Background: A growing body of evidence demonstrated an immune etiology as well as nonimmune mechanismsfor episodes of clinical acute rejection and long-term allograft dysfunction.Objective: To investigate the correlation of IFN-γ-producing cells and TGF-β with incidence of clinical acuterejection in living-related and unrelated kidney allogarft recipients during the first post-transplant year.Methods: This multi-center study was performed on 57 kidney allograft recipients from living-related(n=20) and unrelated (n=37) donors between April 2011 and September 2012 and who were followedprospectively for a mean period of one year. Peripheral blood samples were collected from all patientspre-transplantation and at days 14, 30 and 90 after transplantation; PBMCs were used as responding cellsin enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot (ELISPOT) assay to measure the frequency of IFN-γ-producingcells after stimulation with donor lymphocytes. Additionally, TGF-β levels were measured in cell culturesupernatants of ELISPOT assay.Results: During the follow-up period, 45 (79%) patients were diagnosed with stable graft function (groupA); 12 (21%) experienced clinical acute rejection episodes (group B). The frequency of IFN-γ-producingcells was significantly (p<0.001) higher in the rejection group in all three times after transplantation.Also, post-transplantation comparison for TGF-β showed a significantly (p<0.001) higher contents ingroup A vs. group B. Comparing the post-transplantation levels of TGF-β and mean numbers of IFN-γ-producing cells between groups A and B demonstrated a continuous increment in TGF-β and decreasingfrequencies of IFN-γ-producing cells in group A vs. group B.Conclusion: Serial post-transplantation monitoring of IFN-γ-producing donor reactive cells during the firstmonths is a clinically feasible approach for identification of kidney allogarft recipients at risk for ongoingimmune-mediated graft damage and later graft loss.