title: Increased gene expression of TGF-β in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from renal transplant patients with polyomavirus BK viremia.
abstract: We aimed to investigate the roles of cytokines during polyomavirus BK (BKV) reactivation in renal transplant patients. Forty-eight renal allograft recipients were enrolled, and their sera BKV viral load and mRNA expression levels of cytokines in peripheral blood mononuclear cells were measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Patient's age and gene expression levels of interleukin (IL)-2 (10.04 ± 2.63 vs. 8.70 ± 2.40, p = 0.049) and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β (12.58 ± 2.59 vs. 10.89 ± 1.91, p = 0.015) were significantly higher in BKV viremia (+) renal transplant patients. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that age and mRNA expression levels of TGF-β, but not IL-2, significantly correlated with the presence of BKV viremia. Sera BKV viral loads showed a positive correlation with patient age and the levels of TGF-β and IL-6 mRNA. After adjusting for age and sex in the regression model, both age and TGF-β mRNA levels maintained a significant positive association with sera BKV viral loads. Serum TGF-β concentration tended to be higher in BKV viremia (+) patients (p = 0.079). In conclusion, expression levels of TGF-β were found to correlate with both BKV viremia positivity and sera BKV viral loads in renal transplant patients.
authors.affiliation: Division of General Surgery, Dalin Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Chiayi, Taiwan.|School of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Wen-Yao
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan.|Department of General Surgery, Hualien Tzu Chi Medical Center, Hualien, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ming-Che
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Science and Institute of Molecular Biology, National Chung Cheng University, Chiayi, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hsien-Bin
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan.|Division of Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology, Dalin Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Chiayi, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ming-Chi
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Lu
mesh_terms: D001739:BK Virus / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000601:surgery*; D007677:Kidney Function Tests; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D027601:Polyomavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000821:virology; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011379:Prognosis; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012307:Risk Factors; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics*; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000821:virology; D019562:Viral Load; D014766:Viremia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta
keywords: BKV; IL-2; IL-6; TGF-β; cytokines; renal transplant