title: Improved renal allograft survival with vitamin D receptor polymorphism.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Polymorphisms in genes, coding for proteins involved in immune response, or the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis may influence immunological and non-immunological mechanisms that lead to allograft loss. Vitamin D receptor (VDR) agonists reduce allograft rejection in animal models, and there are a number of functional polymorphisms in VDR.
  
  
  METHODS
  In all, 379 renal transplant recipients were genotyped for VDR (FokI & ApaI) polymorphisms, and the association of each genotype with renal allograft survival and acute rejection was determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was significantly improved allograft survival for patients who were homozygous or heterozygous for the VDR FokI T allele (Hazard Ratio [HR] = 0.488, p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The association of VDR FokI T allele with improved renal allograft survival is a unique observation. The finding is in keeping with data showing the prevention of chronic allograft rejection with the use of Vitamin D receptor agonists.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, Ireland. plavin@chg.duhs.duke.edu
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Lavin
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Laing
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: O'Kelly
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Moloney
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gopinathan
authors.forename: A Al
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Aradi
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Shields
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Conlon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol / Q000235:genetics*; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous
chemical_list: D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol