Glucocorticoid pathway polymorphisms and diabetes after kidney transplantation.

AIMS: To find possible associations between new-onset diabetes after transplantation and polymorphisms in glucocorticoid pathway. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 290 patients from our national cohort of kidney transplant patients with functioning graft transplanted in 6 consecutive years (2010 - 2015) were included in the study. All patients were genotyped for polymorphisms in genes coding for glucocorticoid receptor (NR3C1 rs33389, rs6198 and rs33388), P-glycoprotein (ABCB1 rs1045642, rs1128503, and rs2032582), and glutathione S-transferase P1 (GSTP1 rs1695 and rs1138272). For interim analysis, clinical data were obtained from medical records for 79 patients. RESULTS: 22.8% of patients developed NODAT in the first post-transplant year. GSTP1 rs1695 and rs1138272 polymorphisms were associated with an increased risk for NODAT. NR3C1 rs6198 polymorphism was associated with higher serum glucose at the end of the first post-transplant year. CONCLUSION: The observed incidence of NODAT in the first post-transplant year is in accordance with the literature data. GSTP1 genotypes leading to decreased conjugation capacity were associated with higher probability of NODAT. As these polymorphisms can be determined already before kidney transplantation, they can help planning early glucocorticoid withdrawal if a favorable post-transplant course permits it.

Comparative ultrastructure of cells and cuticle in the anterior chamber and papillate region of Porcellioscaber (Crustacea, Isopoda) hindgut.

Isopod hindgut consists of two anatomical and functional parts, the anterior chamber, and the papillate region. This study provides a detailed ultrastructural comparison of epithelial cells in the anterior chamber and the papillate region with focus on cuticle ultrastructure, apical and basal plasma membrane labyrinths, and cell junctions. Na+/K+-ATPase activity in the hindgut epithelial cells was demonstrated by cytochemical localisation. The main difference in cuticle ultrastructure is in the thickness of epicuticle which is almost as thick as the procuticle in the papillate region and only about one sixth of the thickness of procuticle in the anterior chamber. The apical plasma membrane in both hindgut regions forms an apical plasma membrane labyrinth of cytoplasmic strands and extracellular spaces. In the papillate region the membranous infoldings are deeper and the extracellular spaces are wider. The basal plasma membrane is extensively infolded and associated with numerous mitochondria in the papillate region, while it forms relatively scarce basal infoldings in the anterior chamber. The junctional complex in both hindgut regions consists of adherens and septate junctions. Septate junctions are more extensive in the papillate region. Na+/K+-ATPase was located mostly in the apical plasma membranes in both hindgut regions. The ultrastructural features of hindgut cuticle are discussed in comparison to exoskeletal cuticle and to cuticles of other arthropod transporting epithelia from the perspective of their mechanical properties and permeability. The morphology of apical and basal plasma membranes and localisation of Na+/K+-ATPase are compared with other arthropod-transporting epithelia according to different functions of the anterior chamber and the papillate region.