The effect of different immunosuppressive regimens on TGF‐β1 expression in kidney transplant patients

• Published in: Transplant international 2005-06, Vol.18 (6), p.668-671
• Main Authors: Matl, Ivo, Viklický, Ondřej, Voska, Luděk, Lodererová, Alena, Vítko, Štefan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; chronic allograft nephropathy; cyclosporin A; General aspects; Medical sciences; Nephrology. Urinary tract diseases; Nephropathies. Renovascular diseases. Renal failure; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; protocol biopsy; Renal failure; tacrolimus; transforming growth factor‐β1
• ISSN: 0934-0874; 1432-2277
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1432-2277.2005.00115.x

Summary Transforming growth factor (TGF)‐β1 is a key profibrogenic cytokine associated with the pathogenesis of chronic allograft nephropathy (CAN). The primary aim of this study was to evaluate TGF‐β1 expression in protocol kidney graft biopsy in patients treated with different immunosuppressive regimens. Protocol kidney graft biopsies were carried out in 77 patients with stable graft function at 1 year after kidney transplantation, treated with a triple‐drug regimen based on cyclosporin A (CyA; n = 49) or tacrolimus (TAC; n = 28). Morphological findings were assessed using the Banff 97 classification. TGF‐β1 expression was analysed using immunochemistry, and semiquantitatively scored in different renal structures (total score 0–18). Clinical data were analysed at the time of biopsy, and 12 months thereafter. No significant relation was found between the used immunosuppressive regimen and the histomorphological picture in the graft. TGF‐β1 expression within graft tissue was significantly higher in patients treated with CyA when compared with TAC (9.94 ± 4.2 vs. 5.0 ± 3.2; P