title: Expression levels of Notch1 and Delta-like 4 in peripheral lymphocytes and their relationship with T helper 17 (Th17) cells in renal transplant recipients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to investigate the role of the Notch1/Delta-like 4 signaling pathway and its relationship with T helper 17 (Th17) cells in the peripheral transplantation immune of renal transplant recipients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-two kidney transplant recipients in our hospital were selected and divided into the acute rejection group (AR), renal tubular necrosis (ATN) group, and stable renal function group, according to their postoperative recovery. Flow cytometry was used to detect the expression of Notch1 and Delta-like 4 in peripheral lymphocytes and the presence of Th17 cells in the kidney of transplant recipients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The expression levels of Notch1 and Delta-like 4 and level of Th17 cells among the three groups before surgery and at postoperative day 1 showed no significant differences (P>0.05). At 3, 7, and 14d after surgery, these three factors in the AR group were significantly higher than in the stable renal function group (P<0.01) and ATN group (P<0.01), where the levels in the latter two groups were similar. Upon the occurrence of acute rejection, the Notch1 and Delta-like 4 expression and Th17 cell ratio were significantly increased (P<0.01) but gradually decreased after anti-rejection therapy. Notch1 and Delta-like 4 were significantly positively correlated with Th17 cells (r=0.893, P<0.01 and r=0.893, P<0.01, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The detection of Notch1 and Delta-like 4 expression in peripheral blood lymphocytes of renal transplant recipients can serve as a positive indicator for evaluating the diagnosis and treatment efficacy of the AR reaction.
authors.affiliation: Organ Transplant Institute, Fuzhou General Hospital, Fuzhou 350025, China. Electronic address: cnkaizheng@126.com.
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Organ Transplant Institute, Fuzhou General Hospital, Fuzhou 350025, China.
authors.forename: Jianming
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.affiliation: Organ Transplant Institute, Fuzhou General Hospital, Fuzhou 350025, China.
authors.forename: Wenping
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Organ Transplant Institute, Fuzhou General Hospital, Fuzhou 350025, China.
authors.forename: Weizhen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Organ Transplant Institute, Fuzhou General Hospital, Fuzhou 350025, China.
authors.forename: Shunliang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Organ Transplant Institute, Fuzhou General Hospital, Fuzhou 350025, China.
authors.forename: Jinquan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.affiliation: Organ Transplant Institute, Fuzhou General Hospital, Fuzhou 350025, China.
authors.forename: Xia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Organ Transplant Institute, Fuzhou General Hospital, Fuzhou 350025, China.
authors.forename: Zhixian
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Organ Transplant Institute, Fuzhou General Hospital, Fuzhou 350025, China.
authors.forename: Chenguang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Organ Transplant Institute, Fuzhou General Hospital, Fuzhou 350025, China.
authors.forename: Fuqiang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: He
mesh_terms: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D000328:Adult; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000276:immunology*; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D007668:Kidney / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D051881:Receptor, Notch1 / Q000276:immunology*; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; C424126:DLL4 protein, human; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; C497761:NOTCH1 protein, human; D051881:Receptor, Notch1
keywords: Acute rejection; Delta-like 4; Notch1; Renal allograft; T helper 17