Estimation of serum and urinary profibrotic cytokines in renal allograft recipients

ABSTRACT

In this study, serum and urinary transforming growth factor beta 1 [TGF- beta 1] and platelet derived growth factor [PDGF] levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA] in ten renal allograft recipients for more than one year with normal renal function [group I], ten renal allograft recipients for more than one year with impaired renal function [group II] and ten patients with chronic renal failure [CRF] under conservative therapy [group III] and the measurements were compared with the levels of ten healthy controls [group IV]. The data confirmed the crucial contribution of the profibrotic cytokines TGF-beta 1 and PDGF in the development of chronic graft dysfunction that could be further augmented by cyclosporine A therapy. Further studies are needed to examine the effect of manipulation of immunosuppressive regimen on the extent of profibrotic gene expression as well as the long-term graft survival