Up-regulation of cyclooxygenase-2 in different grades of acute human renal allograft rejection.
BACKGROUND
Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is up-regulated by a variety of stimuli that are associated with tissue injury and inflammation.


METHODS
The purpose of this study was to analyze COX-2 detection during different grades of acute human renal allograft rejection. COX-2 expressions were analyzed by immunohistochemistry in 74 samples obtained from biopsies with acute rejection of different grades (n= 48), tubular changes (n=13) and from kidney allografts with stable function (n=13).


RESULTS
In interstitial area, there was a significant correlation of COX-2 induction in acute rejection in comparison to tubular changes (1.67 vs. 0.76, p=0.02) and stable function (vs. 0.07, p<0.001), as well as in vessels in the group with acute rejection in relation to stable function (1.1 vs. 0, p=0.04). When the group with acute rejection was analyzed in subgroups, there was a clear increase of COX-2 expression from acute rejection grade IB to III in vessels, in inflammatory infiltrating cells in interstitial area and in glomeruli, while borderline and IA grades were intermediate.


CONCLUSIONS
COX-2 is up-regulated during acute human renal allograft rejection according to the severity of acute rejection and could be used as a marker of inflammation in kidney transplantation.
Rangel
Erika B
EB
Division of Nephrology, Hospital do Rim e Hipertensão and Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Brazil. erikabr@uol.com.br
Moura
Luiz A
LA
Franco
Marcello F
MF
Pacheco-Silva
Alvaro
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000201:enzymology*; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000201:enzymology; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous; D015854:Up-Regulation
D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2