High urine sIL-6R as a predictor of late graft failure in renal transplant recipients.
BACKGROUND
Chronic allograft nephropathy is an important cause of late renal transplant failure. Although numerous studies on cytokines have been carried out, the pathogenetic role of cytokines in chronic renal allograft nephropathy remains unclear.


METHODS
In a retrospective study, the authors compared posttransplant plasma and urine cytokine levels (interleukin [IL]-1alpha, IL-1beta, soluble [s] IL-1 receptor [R] antagonist [A], IL-2, sIL-2R, IL-3, IL-4, IL-6, sIL-6R, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, transforming growth factor-beta2, and interferon-gamma) in 34 matched pairs of patients with or without late graft failure and in 50 matched pairs with either normal or increased serum creatinine levels and continued stable graft function.


RESULTS
Twelve and 6 months before late graft failure, urine levels of sIL-6R were significantly increased (P=0.003 and P=0.01, respectively). Serum creatinine levels were not associated with increased urine sIL-6R.


CONCLUSIONS
High urine sIL-6R appears to be predictive of late graft failure in renal transplant recipients.
Department of Transplantation Immunology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany. mahmoud.sadeghi@ med.uni-heidelberg.de.
Mahmoud
M
Sadeghi
Volker
V
Daniel
Manfred
M
Wiesel
Olaf
O
Hergesell
Gerhard
G
Opelz
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000503:physiopathology; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6 / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D012995:Solubility; D013997:Time Factors; D014556:Urine / Q000737:chemistry
D016207:Cytokines; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6; D003404:Creatinine