title: Gene-expression profiles and age of donor kidney biopsies obtained before transplantation distinguish medium term graft function.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Donor factors such as age profoundly influence long-term graft function after cadaveric renal transplantation, but the molecular signature of these aspects in the allograft remains unknown.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed the genome-wide gene expression signature of donor kidney biopsies of different ages obtained before transplantation. Subsequent analysis compared expression profiles from allografts with excellent function versus impaired function at 1 yr after engraftment. Differential expression profiles were analyzed on the level of molecular function and biologic role, as well as by analysis of co-regulation through transcription factors, regulatory networks, and protein-protein interaction data utilizing extended bioinformatics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 15 subjects with excellent transplant function defined as calculated GFR>or=45 mL/min/1.73 m2 at 1 yr exhibited a distinctly different gene expression profile than the matched 16 subjects with impaired function defined as calculated GFR<45 mL/min/1.73 m2. Donor kidneys from recipients with impaired allograft function showed activation of genes mainly belonging to the functional classes of immunity, signal transduction, and oxidative stress response. Two-thirds of these genes exhibited at least one protein interacting partner, suggesting choreographed intracellular events differentiating the two recipient groups. However, donor age may have confounded some of the associations found between gene profiles and graft function.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In summary, a distinctive gene expression profile in the donor kidney at transplantation together with donor age predicts medium term allograft function in recipients of cadaveric allografts.
authors: Department of Nephrology, KH Elisabethinen Linz, and Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors: Alexander
authors: A
authors: Kainz
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: Perco
authors: Bernd
authors: B
authors: Mayer
authors: Afschin
authors: A
authors: Soleiman
authors: Rudolf
authors: R
authors: Steininger
authors: Gert
authors: G
authors: Mayer
authors: Christa
authors: C
authors: Mitterbauer
authors: Christoph
authors: C
authors: Schwarz
authors: Timothy W
authors: TW
authors: Meyer
authors: Rainer
authors: R
authors: Oberbauer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D001706:Biopsy; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors; D014019:Tissue Donors