IL2-IL21 gene cluster polymorphism is not associated with allograft function after kidney transplantation.
BACKGROUND
Cytokines are key mediators of the immune response after transplantation. The interleukin (IL)-2 cytokine family, which includes IL-2, IL-4, IL-7, IL-9, IL-15, and IL-21, is of particular interest because of its importance in the allogenic response. The aim of this study was to examine the association between the rs6822844 gene polymorphism in the IL2-IL21 region and allograft function after kidney transplantation.


METHODS
The study enrolled 270 Caucasian kidney allograft recipients (166 males and 104 females, mean age 47.63 ± 12.96 years). Following parameters were recorded in each case: recipient's age, delayed graft function (DGF), occurrence and number of episodes of acute rejection (AR), and chronic allograft dysfunction (CAD). Genotyping of the rs6822844 IL2-IL21 cluster gene polymorphism was performed using real-time PCR assay.


RESULTS
There were no statistically significant differences in the genotypes and alleles of the rs6822844 IL2-IL21 cluster gene polymorphism among patients with DGF (p = 0.72), AR (p = 0.69) and CAD (p = 0.77), or in creatinine concentrations 1, 3, 6, 12, 24 or 36 months after transplantation (p = 0.46, p = 0.58, p = 0.6, p = 0.72, p = 0.7, p = 0.76, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
It seems that the rs6822844 IL2-IL21 gene cluster polymorphism is of little importance in allograft function after kidney transplantation.
Clinical Department of Nephrology, Transplantology and Internal Medicine, Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland.
Ewa
E
Kwiatkowska
Leszek
L
Domanski
Karolina
K
Kłoda
Andrzej
A
Pawlik
Krzysztof
K
Safranow
Kazimierz
K
Ciechanowski
D000483:Alleles; D064591:Allografts; D051799:Delayed Graft Function / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D007378:Interleukins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D000098546:Interleukin-21
D007376:Interleukin-2; D007378:Interleukins; D000098546:Interleukin-21