Evaluation of TH17 and TH1 Immune Response Profile in Patients After Renal Transplant.
BACKGROUND
Renal transplantation (RT) is the best treatment option for patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) because it improves both quality of life and survival. However, allograft rejection remains the most important barrier to successful transplantation. Underlying immunologic mechanisms should be understood to develop appropriate treatment strategies.


METHODS
In this prospective study, we followed renal transplant recipients for 6 months. The study population comprised 50 recipients of renal transplants, and these were divided into 2 groups: 44 patients with stable graft function (SGF) and 6 patients with rejection (RX). Peripheral blood samples were drawn from patients on the pre-RT day, at post-RT day 7, month 1, and month 6, and on the day of rejection for analysis of the percentages of cytokines interleukin (IL) 17 and interferon (IFN) γ with the use of flow cytometry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.


RESULTS
The percentages of intracellular IFN-γ were not significant in the group with RX compared with SGF. Levels of intracellular IL-17 obtained at the 6th month after RT were significantly higher in the RX group than in the SGF group. Plasma levels of pre-RT IL-17 were also higher in the RX group; therefore, it may be a predictive biomarker of acute rejection of renal transplants.


CONCLUSIONS
The present study provides information about pre-RT and post-RT cytokine profiles of Turkish patients with ESRD. We consider cytokine analysis to be a valuable biomarker panel in the prevention of rejection and in assisting with new treatment strategies for patients undergoing renal transplant.
Department of Medical Biology, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey. Electronic address: bioayseerol@gmail.com.
A
A
Erol
Department of Organ Transplantation, Memorial Sisli Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
E
E
Arpali
Department of Organ Transplantation, Memorial Sisli Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
B
B
Murat Yelken
Department of Organ Transplantation, Memorial Sisli Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
B
B
Kocak
Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
Y K
YK
Calıskan
Department of Urology, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
I
I
Nane
Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
A
A
Turkmen
Department of Medical Biology, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
F
F
Savran Oguz
D000328:Adult; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies
C508717:IL17A protein, human; D020381:Interleukin-17; D007371:Interferon-gamma