Abnormal expression of B cell activating factor in peripheral lymphocytes of some kidney transplant recipients and its potential biological significance / 中国组织工程研究

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:B cell activating factor belonging to tumor necrosis factor family(BAFF)is essential to B cell differentiation,maturation,survival,and antibody secretion via binding to its receptors,and may play a role in the development of T cell response.Whether or not BAFF signal participates in the kidney allograft rejection is worthy of studying.OBJECTIVE:To analyze the expression and potential bioactivity of BAFF in the peripheral lymphocytes of kidney transplant recipients.DESIGN,TIME AND SETTING:A case observation was performed at the Department of Urology,Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from June 2006 to March 2007.PARTICIPANTS:Eighty-six kidney transplant recipients comprising 60 males and 26 females,aged 12-62 years old,who received first-time kidney transplantation,were included.The serum creatinine levels ranged between 65-267 μmol/L.METHODS:Peripheral blood of follow-up recipients was taken for anticoagulation using EDTA-Na2.Renal graft biopsy samples of some patients were collected.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:The expression rates of BAFF+,BAFF-R+,CD4+,CD8+,CD4+ CD25+ CD127-/low,CD134+,CD4+ CD 134+ and CD19+ BAFF-R+ in peripheral mononuclear cells were analyzed,and the ratio of CD4/CD8 was calculated.Biopsy tissue was subjected to pathological and immunohistochemical analyses.RESULTS:BAFF expression rate on the peripheral mononuclear cells was between 0.18%-76.97%.15%was used as the cut-off value.In the ≥15%group,the mean value of BAFF expression rate was 36.91%;BAFF+ mononuclear cells were not significantly correlated to the ratio of peripheral CD4+/CD8+ and the CD4+ CD25+ CD127-/low T lymphocytes.However,there were significant correlations between BAFF+ mononuclear cells and CD134+ lymphocytes or CD4+ CD134+ lymphocytes(P ＜0.01,P ＜0.05,respectively).While in the ＜15%group,there were no significant correlations among all indices.Pathological diagnosis confirmed that BAFF was expressed in the renal tubular epithelial cell cytoplasm and cytomembrane staining of some chronic rejection sections.CONCLUSION:Abnormal high expression of BAFF in peripheral mononuclear cells may be related to renal allograft rejection.