Article Text
Abstract
Aims: To determine whether polymorphisms of the genes encoding donor or recipient interleukin 1α (IL-1α), tumour necrosis factor α (TNFα), or IL-4 have any impact on the incidence of acute rejection after renal transplantation.
Methods: All donors and recipients were genotyped for three polymorphisms in the three cytokine genes: IL1A −889, TNFA −308, and IL4 –590.
Results: Statistical analysis of the data obtained revealed no association between the cytokine gene polymorphisms tested and the incidence of post-transplant acute rejection. After stratification for human leucocyte antigen (HLA) matching, it was found that kidneys from donors positive for the TNFA-A allele had a significantly increased incidence of acute rejection in HLA-DR mismatched transplants.
Conclusions: This finding argues for prospective TNFA genotyping of renal donors, with avoidance of allocation of kidneys from donors positive for the TNFA-A allele to HLA-DR mismatched recipients.
- acute renal allograft rejection
- donor cytokine genotype
- recipient cytokine genotype
- IL, interleukin
- HLA, human leucocyte antigen
- MHC, major histocompatibility complex
- PCR, polymerase chain reaction
- TNF, tumour necrosis factor