Role of miR-663 in acute renal graft rejection: an in vitro study / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the serum miR-663 levels in renal transplant patients with and without acute rejection (AR) and explore the role of miR-663 acute renal graft rejection.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Real time-PCR was used to determine serum miR-663 levels in renal transplant recipients with and without AR. MTT assay and Annexin V-FITC assay were employed to examine the viability and apoptosis of human renal glomerular endothelial cells (HRGEC) treated with a miR-663 mimic or a miR-663 inhibitor, and ELISA was performed to detect the expression of inflammation-related cytokines including IL-6, IFN-γ, CCL-2 and TNF-α in the cells. Transwell assay was used to examine the effect of miR-663 mimic and miR-663 inhibitor on the chemotactic capability of macrophages.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Serum miR-663 level was significantly higher in renal transplant recipients with AR than in those without AR. The miR-663 mimic significantly inhibited the viability of HRGECs and increase the cell apoptosis rate, while miR-663 inhibitor suppressed the cell apoptosis. The miR-663 mimic increased the expression levels of inflammation-related cytokines and enhanced the chemotactic capability of macrophages.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>miR-663 might play important roles in acute renal graft rejection and may become a therapeutic target for treating AR.</p>

Factors affecting the prognosis of invasive pulmonary fungal infections after kidney transplantation: analysis of the ten-year single-center data / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the factors affecting the prognosis of invasive pulmonary fungal infection (IPFI) in patients after kidney transplantation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>This retrospective study involved 80 concurrent patients with IPFI after receiving kidney transplantation in Zhujiang Hospital from January 1, 2000 to April 1, 2010. Fourteen factors including age, gender, pathogens, body temperature on day 5, renal insufficiency, mechanical ventilation, and clinical pulmonary infection score (CPIS) on day 5 were analyzed by univariate analysis and multivariate Logistic regression analysis to identify the factors related to the prognosis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Univariate analysis showed that a normal body temperature on day 5 of antifungal treatment (P=0.024), fasting high blood glucose (P=0.001), renal insufficiency (P=0.002), malnutrition (P=0.018), time of infection after transplantation (P=0.046), low CPIS on day 5 (P=0.000) and mechanical ventilation (P=0.000) all affected the prognosis of the patients. Logistic regression analysis showed that renal insufficiency (OR=18.096), mechanical ventilation (OR=130.7) and low CPIS on day 5 (OR=0.011) were independent prognostic factors, among which the low CPIS on day 5 was a protective factor.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Timely and adequate empirical therapy and renal replacement therapy, along with adjusted anti-fungal therapy protocol according to the CPIS score on day 5, may improve the prognosis of IPFI after kidney transplantation.</p>