title: Role of anti-vimentin antibodies in renal transplantation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The role of non-HLA antibodies in rejection is not clear. We investigate whether antibodies to vimentin are made after renal transplantation and if production is associated with interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy (IFTA).
  
  
  METHODS
  In this retrospective study, sera from 70 recipients of renal allografts (40 controls, 30 IFTA) were studied. The biopsy diagnosis of interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy (IFTA) was based on random, cause-indicating biopsies. Sera were collected pretransplant and at 3 monthly intervals up to 5 years posttransplant or diagnosis of IFTA and assayed by ELISA for IgM and IgG anti-vimentin antibodies (AVA) and HLA antibodies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean titers of IgM AVA were higher at every year after transplantation compared with pretransplant for both IFTA and controls groups (P<0.001). There was no difference in the mean level of IgM AVA achieved by IFTA and control groups. The mean pretransplant levels of IgG AVA in the IFTA and control group were 18.2±11.7 and 11.0±8.1, respectively (P=0.001). There was a significant increase between the pretransplant mean levels of IgG AVA and the levels at years 1 to 4 in the IFTA group (years 1-3, P<0.0001, year 4 P=0.003) but not in the controls. There was no significant difference between the numbers of IFTA or control patients achieving a positive value (mean+2SD of pretransplant antibody titers) of IgM AVA (50% versus 37.5%, respectively) or IgG AVA (26.6% versus 12.5%, respectively). There was no association between production of HLA and AVA antibodies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Posttransplant production of IgM AVA is not associated with IFTA. The production of IgG AVA by a minority of IFTA patients suggests that in some individuals, IgG AVA may be involved in the pathology of IFTA.
authors: 1 Transplant Immunology and Immunogenetics, Oxford Transplant Centre, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust, Oxford, UK. 2 Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust, Oxford, UK. 3 Transplant Immunology, Harefield Hospital, Imperial College, Harefield, UK. 4 Department of Cellular Pathology, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust, Oxford, UK. 5 Address correspondence to: Dler Besarani, MRCS, MSc, MD, Oxford Transplant Centre, Churchill Hospital, Oxford, OX3 7LE.
authors: Dler
authors: D
authors: Besarani
authors: Lucia
authors: L
authors: Cerundolo
authors: John D
authors: JD
authors: Smith
authors: Jeanette
authors: J
authors: Procter
authors: Martin C N
authors: MC
authors: Barnardo
authors: Ian S D
authors: IS
authors: Roberts
authors: Peter J
authors: PJ
authors: Friend
authors: Marlene L
authors: ML
authors: Rose
authors: Susan V
authors: SV
authors: Fuggle
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001284:Atrophy; D001706:Biopsy; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D007518:Isoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014746:Vimentin / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D006680:HLA Antigens; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D007518:Isoantibodies; D014746:Vimentin