Interleukin-12 mRNA levels in renal allograft fine-needle aspirates do not correlate with acute transplant rejection.
TH1 cytokines, including gamma-interferon (IFN), are critical in the initiation and progression of allograft rejection. As interleukin (IL)-12 up-regulates gamma-IFN, we assessed the role of IL-12 in human transplant rejection. Twenty renal allograft fine-needle aspirates from 19 patients were obtained, evaluated in the standard fashion, and assessed for gamma-IFN and IL-12p40 subunit mRNA levels using nested reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Ten aspirates demonstrated acute rejection by clinical criteria, and 9 of the 10 aspirates contained gamma-IFN while only 3 demonstrated IL-12; there were no distinguishing characteristics for these 3 patients with regard to therapy, or time of onset and severity of rejection. Seven patients without clinical or morphologic rejection failed to demonstrate gamma-IFN or IL-12. Three patients had discrepant findings; there was no morphologic rejection, yet all 3 patients contained gamma-IFN and 1 patient demonstrated rejection on subsequent biopsy. However, only 1 aspirate exhibited IL-12 and this patient had no documented subsequent rejection. This study confirms the association of gamma-IFN mRNA with acute rejection. In contrast, IL-12 mRNA does not appear to play a key role early in the rejection process.
Department of Pediatrics, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA.
X J
XJ
Zuo
S C
SC
Jordan
A
A
Wilkinson
G M
GM
Danovitch
L
L
Barba
J
J
Schwieger
C C
CC
Nast
D000208:Acute Disease; D001483:Base Sequence; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000737:chemistry; D015870:Gene Expression; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000235:genetics; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000235:genetics*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000276:immunology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D013997:Time Factors
D017931:DNA Primers; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018664:Interleukin-12; D007371:Interferon-gamma