Simon T, Opelz G, Weimer R, Wiesel M, Feustel A, Ott RC, Süsal C. The effect of ATG on cytokine and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte gene expression in renal allograft recipients during the early post-transplant period.
Clin Transplant 2003;
17:217-24. [PMID:
12780671 DOI:
10.1034/j.1399-0012.2003.00031.x]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Despite the long history of ATG use, the exact in vivo mechanism of action remains unclear. In the present study, we analyzed the effect of ATG-induction therapy on expression of 10 immunologically relevant genes in the early post-transplant period.
METHODS
Eight renal allograft recipients received post-transplant prophylactic ATG treatment on 10 consecutive days and an additional three patients received treatment on 5, 6, or 7 consecutive days, respectively. Gene expression was measured at the beginning and the end of therapy and normalized to a control gene using Taqman real-time PCR methodology. Results were compared with those of matched control patients. No patients were diagnosed with rejection.
RESULTS
ATG-treated patients showed decreases in the expression of cytotoxic T cell genes perforin (-56%, p = 0.03) and granzyme B (-45%, p = 0.01) and cytokine gene IFN-gamma (-75%, p = 0.005), and significant increases in the expression of cytokine genes IL-7 (550%, p = 0.04), IL-10 (275%, p = 0.01), IL-15 (417%, p = 0.03), TNF-alpha (615%, p = 0.01), and TGF-beta (235%, p = 0.02). No significant changes were observed in the control group, with the exception of a decrease in IL-10 expression (-42%, p = 0.01). There were no significant changes in IL-12 or Fas-L expression in either group.
CONCLUSION
ATG-induced decreases in the expression of IFN-gamma, perforin, and granzyme B and increases in IL-10 and TGF-beta might be considered beneficial to the recipient, whereas increases in the expression of IL-7, IL-15, and TNF-alpha genes might be involved in immunological processes not effected by ATG that may harm the transplant in the long term.
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