Correlation between endothelin expression in early post-transplant biopsy specimens and long-term allograft function in living-related renal transplantation.
OBJECTIVE
We investigated whether degree of immunohistochemically evident endothelin (ET) expression in early post-transplant biopsy specimens could predict long-term allograft function in living-related renal transplantation.


METHODS
Allograft biopsy specimens obtained from 40 patients with living-related transplants were studied. Cases with episodes of acute rejection or calcineurin inhibitor toxicity were excluded. We immunostained graft biopsy specimens obtained at pre-transplantation (PRE) and at 3 months (3M) afterward with anti-ET antibody. The number of stained tubular epithelial cells per 1000 tubular cells was defined as the staining index (SI). In the 21 patients whom we could assess at 3 yr (3Y) after transplantation, the correlation between ET expression and long-term graft function was examined.


RESULTS
Anti-ET antibody staining was appreciable in tubular epithelium but not in glomeruli. Tubular SI at PRE and at 3M were 10.6 +/- 15.3 and 32.0 +/- 35.6 (mean +/- SD) respectively (p < 0.01). When patients were classified according to SI (group A, SI < 25; group B, SI > 25), declining ratio in creatinine clearance at 3Y after transplantation for groups A and B with respect was 21.8% +/- 15.4% and 41.9% +/- 21.6% (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
High ET expression in early post-transplantation, biopsy specimens was related to poor long-term allograft function following living-related renal transplantation.
Department of Organs Therapeutics, Division of Urology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan.
Masashi
M
Takeda
Toshiro
T
Ishida
Takeshi
T
Ishimura
Masato
M
Fujisawa
D000293:Adolescent; D001706:Biopsy; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016232:Endothelins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000502:physiology*; D007684:Kidney Tubules / Q000166:cytology; D019520:Living Donors; D008297:Male; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D016232:Endothelins