Genetic polymorphism of interferon regulatory factor 5 (IRF5) correlates with allograft acute rejection of liver transplantation.
BACKGROUND
Although liver transplantation is one of the most efficient curative therapies of end stage liver diseases, recipients may suffer liver graft loss opst-operation. IRF-5, a member of Interferon Regulatory Factors, functions as a key regulator in TLR4 cascade, and is capable of inducing inflammatory cytokines. Although TLR4 has been proved to contribute to acute allograft rejection, including after liver transplantation, the correlation between IRF5 gene and acute rejection has not been elucidated yet.


METHODS
The study enrolled a total of 289 recipients, including 39 females and 250 males, and 39 recipients developed acute allograft rejection within 6 months post-transplantation. The allograft rejections were diagnosed by liver biopsies. Genome DNA of recipients was extracted from pre-operative peripheral blood. Genotyping of IRF-5, including rs3757385, rs752637 and rs11761199, was performed, followed by SNP frequency and Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium analysis.


RESULTS
The genetic polymorphism of rs3757385 was found associated with acute rejection. G/G homozygous individuals were at higher risk of acute rejection, with a P value of 0.042 (OR = 2.34 (1.07-5.10)).


CONCLUSIONS
IRF5, which transcriptionally activates inflammatory cytokines, is genetically associated with acute rejection and might function as a risk factor for acute rejection of liver transplantations.
Key Lab of Combined Multi-Organ Transplantation, Ministry of Public Health, the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Xiaobo
X
Yu
Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Bajin
B
Wei
Key Lab of Combined Multi-Organ Transplantation, Ministry of Public Health, the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Yifan
Y
Dai
Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Min
M
Zhang
Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Jian
J
Wu
Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Xiao
X
Xu
Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Guoping
G
Jiang
Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Shusen
S
Zheng
Key Lab of Combined Multi-Organ Transplantation, Ministry of Public Health, the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Lin
L
Zhou
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D064591:Allografts; D001483:Base Sequence; D017931:DNA Primers; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection; D006801:Humans; D050835:Interferon Regulatory Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D055815:Young Adult
D017931:DNA Primers; C431713:IRF5 protein, human; D050835:Interferon Regulatory Factors