Chemokine receptor 5Delta32 mutation reduces the risk of acute rejection in liver transplantation.
BACKGROUND
Chemokine receptor 5 (CCR-5) plays a central role in allograft rejection. CCR-5Delta32 mutation results in a non-functioning receptor. Homozygous CCR-5Delta32 patients show a significantly improved kidney graft survival rate compared to CCR-5 wild-type patients. Similar correlations between the CCR-5Delta32 genotype and acute rejection or graft survival rate were shown for heart, lung and islet cell transplantation.


METHODS
The aim of this study was to examine CCR-5Delta32 and acute rejection after liver transplantation (OLT). 158 OLT patients were genotyped. Data of grafts and patients were collected prospectively into a transplant database.


RESULTS
There were no significant differences between groups regarding patient, donor or graft variables. CCR-5 wild-type patients had explicitly more acute rejection episodes (p=0.086) than patients with the heterozygous or homozygous Delta32-mutation. Homozygous Delta32 patients had no acute rejection episodes. 12.5% of heterozygous patients had one acute rejection episode as opposed to 30.6% of wild-type patients. Only wild-type patients experienced more than one rejection episode.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with the Delta32-mutation might be candidates for a minimized immunosuppressive therapy. CCR-5 could be relevant as a target for a new therapeutic approach.
Heidenhain
Christoph
C
University Medicine Berlin, Charite, General, Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, Berlin, Germany. christoph.heidenhain@charite.de
Puhl
Gero
G
Moench
Christian
C
Lautem
Anja
A
Neuhaus
Peter
P
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D001483:Base Sequence; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006579:Heterozygote; D006720:Homozygote; D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019713:Receptors, CCR5 / Q000235:genetics*; D012307:Risk Factors; D017384:Sequence Deletion
D017931:DNA Primers; D019713:Receptors, CCR5