Introduction:
Cardiovascular disease represents the main cause of morbidity and mortality after renal transplantation. We have previously reported that functional cytokine gene polymorphisms affecting their expression and serum levels are candidates as potential cardiovascular risk factors in kidney transplant recipients. This study investigated the influence of cytokine production genotypes on the serum levels of the some well-assessed cardiovascular risk markers after renal transplant.
Methods:
In a population of 477 renal transplant recipients we compared the serum levels of homocysteine, Lipoprotein(a) (Lpa), C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen, LDL-cholesterol, tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), P-selectin and CD40 ligand (CD40L) between patients carrying different genotypes of the inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10, TGF-β1, and IFN-γ.
Results:
Significantly increased levels of CRP were found in TNF-α high producers compared to the low producers. IL-6 high producers displayed greater levels of VCAM-1 compared to the low producers. IL-10 high, intermediate and low producers displayed significant differences in homocysteine, fibrinogen and t-PA levels. The concentrations of VCAM-1, P-selectin and CD40L differed significantly in the TGF-β1 high, intermediate and low producers. The three producing genotypes of IFN-γ showed significant differences in the levels of homocysteine and MCP-1.
Conclusions:
This work indicates that cytokine polymorphisms might represent cardiovascular risk markers in renal transplant.
Author(s): Cappuccilli Maria, Cianciolo Giuseppe, Conte Diletta, Donadei Chiara, Comai Giorgia, Cuna Vania, Battaglino Giuseppe, Feliciangeli Giorgio, Scolari Maria Piera, and La Manna Gaetano