title: Kidney Allograft Telomere Length Is Not Associated with Sex, Recipient Comorbid Conditions, Post-Transplant Infections, or CMV Reactivation.
abstract: BACKGROUND Immunosenescence is closely linked to chromosome telomere erosion and telomerase activity alterations. The aim of this study was to analyze the associations of relative telomere length (RTL) of a graft with sex, comorbid conditions, post-transplant infections, and CMV reactivation among transplanted kidney recipients. Additionally, the associations of donor and recipient hTERT, BICD1 genes and chromosome 18 polymorphisms with post-transplant infections were analyzed, including the analysis of donor-recipient genotype pairs. MATERIAL AND METHODS The study enrolled 119 white Polish kidney allograft recipients (64M/55F, mean age 47.3±14.0). The RTL was assessed by modification of a method developed by Cawthon, using a qPCR system. To identify genotypes of the studied polymorphisms, real-time PCR was performed. RESULTS There were no significant associations between graft RTL and sex of donor and recipient, comorbid DM and AH, as well as post-transplant infections and CMV reactivation. There were no statistically significant differences in distribution of hTERT, BICD1 genes and chromosome 18 graft and recipient polymorphisms genotypes between individuals with post-transplant infection and those without infection. The rs2735940 CX-TT hTERT gene donor-recipient genotypes combination was associated with higher risk of post-transplant infection on the border of statistical significance (OR=4.632, 95%CI (0.853-25.14); p=0.067). CONCLUSIONS Assessment of kidney allograft RTL does not show its association with sex, DM, AH, post-transplant infection, or CMV reactivation in the recipients, suggesting that other factors, probably directly related to the transplantation procedure, have a greater effect on telomere length.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Department of Nephrology, Transplantology and Internal Medicine, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, Szczecin, Poland.
authors.forename: Karolina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kłoda
authors.affiliation: Clinical Department of Nephrology, Transplantology and Internal Medicine, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, Szczecin, Poland.
authors.forename: Leszek
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Domański
authors.affiliation: Clinical Department of Nephrology, Transplantology and Internal Medicine, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, Szczecin, Poland.
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kwiatkowska
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Medical Chemistry, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, Szczecin, Poland.
authors.forename: Krzysztof
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Safranow
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Human Nutrition, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, Szczecin, Poland.
authors.forename: Arleta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Drozd
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Diagnostics and Molecular Medicine, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, Szczecin, Poland.
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ciechanowicz
authors.affiliation: Clinical Department of Nephrology, Transplantology and Internal Medicine, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, Szczecin, Poland.
authors.forename: Kazimierz
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ciechanowski
mesh_terms: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / Q000235:genetics; D000328:Adult; D064591:Allografts; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000068884:Immunosenescence; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D012737:Sex Factors; D019098:Telomerase / Q000235:genetics; D016615:Telomere; D014775:Virus Activation / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; C109571:BICD1 protein, human; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; C509186:TERT protein, human; D019098:Telomerase