title: Influence of HLA-DR phenotype on tumor necrosis factor-alpha production in renal-transplant recipients.
abstract: In healthy subjects, previous studies have demonstrated a great interindividual variability in the ability for tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) production. The gene for TNF-alpha is closely linked to and located in the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and it has been suggested that these interindividual differences may be HLA related. Since TNF-alpha is likely to be an important mediator in renal allograft rejection, we investigated the role of HLA antigens on TNF-alpha production rates by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from renal transplant recipients during stable graft function. HLA-DR2-positive recipients showed significantly lower spontaneous TNF-alpha production than DR2-negative patients (p < 0.001). Upon stimulation with OKT3, HLA-DR2-positive patients also showed significantly lower TNF-alpha production than DR2-negative subjects (p < 0.001). HLA-DR3-positive recipients, however, showed significantly higher spontaneous TNF-alpha production than DR3-negative individuals (p < 0.05). These results suggest that differences in TNF-alpha production, both spontaneous and induced, may be due to the expression of certain DR allotypes.
authors.affiliation: Service of Nephrology, Hospital Alarcos, Ciudad Real, Spain.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Peces
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Urra
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de la Torre
mesh_terms: D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D006650:Histocompatibility Testing; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D010641:Phenotype; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016572:Cyclosporine