ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Genetic polymorphisms of interleukin (IL)-17F, associated with functional and/or quantitative change in this glycoprotein, have been described as predisposing to various autoimmune diseases. The proinflammatory IL-17 has some roles in renal transplantation. In this context, the relationship between the most common IL-17F polymorphisms with acute renal allograft rejection susceptibility in Tunisian renal recipients has been investigated. METHODS: We examined 93 renal transplant recipients who were enrolled and classified as follows: GI, 48 transplant recipients who developed at least one episode of acute rejection; and GII, 45 controls, kidney recipients who also were followed for at least 1 year and had stable renal function. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of IL-17F gene, including -1507 C/T (rs18889570), 7384 A/G (rs2397084), 7469 C/T (rs11465553), and 7489 A/G (rs763780), were evaluated using direct sequencing. RESULTS: No statistically significant association of the IL-17F SNPs studied with the onset of acute rejection was observed. However, AA genotype on 7489A/G SNP showed anti-HLA antibodies less than other genotypes and a higher graft survival time (P = .017). CONCLUSION: The AA genotype on 7489A/G SNP of IL-17F and the A allele might be associated with a lower risk of acute rejection with better graft survival.