Allograft rejection-related gene expression in the endothelial cells of renal transplantation recipients after cytomegalovirus infection.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the effects of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection on rejection-related gene expression in the endothelial cells of renal transplantation recipients.


METHODS
Endothelial cells (ECs) were cultured and stimulated by a variety of factors: A, normal control group; B, inactivated human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection group; C, HCMV infection group; D, HCMV supernatant infection group; and E, ganciclovir HCMV group. Expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and major histocompability complex (MHC) class I and class II antigens was detected by flow cytometry (FCM) and immunohistochemistry.


RESULTS
We found characteristic CMV-infected ECs in this study. There were no significant differences among groups A, B and D (P>0.05). Although the expression levels of ICAM-1 were not significantly different between groups C and E (P>0.05), the ICAM-1 expression in these two groups was significantly higher than that in group A (P<0.05). ICAM-1 expression was detected in groups C and E, while there was no expression in groups A, B and D. Furthermore, there was no significant difference of ICAM-1 mRNA expression between groups C and E (P>0.05). Human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-ABC expression was detected in all the groups, while HLA-DR expression was only detected in groups C and E. There were no significant differences of HLA-ABC and HLA-DR expression among groups A, B and D (P>0.05). However, the HLA-ABC and HLA-DR expression levels in groups C and D were higher than those of the remaining groups previously reported (P<0.05). Meanwhile, the HLA-ABC and HLA-DR expression levels in group E were lower than those of group C (P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
CMV could up-regulate the expression levels of ICAM-1 and MHC antigens, which was closely related to allograft rejection.
Li
Yang
Y
Department of Renal Transplantation, Center of Nephropathy, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, China. jullian80915@126.com
Yan
Hang
H
Xue
Wu-jun
WJ
Tian
Pu-xun
PX
Ding
Xiao-ming
XM
Pan
Xiao-ming
XM
Feng
Xin-shun
XS
Tian
Xiao-hui
XH
Xiang
He-li
HL
Hou
Jun
J
D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000378:metabolism; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology*; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000379:methods; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006084:Graft Rejection; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008285:Major Histocompatibility Complex; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
D006680:HLA Antigens; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1