Relationship of Transforming Growth Factor-β1 and Arginase-1 Levels with Long-term Survival after Kidney Transplantation / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

ABSTRACT

In this study,we compared the serum levels of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1),interleukin-10 (IL-10),and arginase-1 in long-term survival kidney transplant recipients (LTSKTRs) with those in short-term survival kidney transplant recipients (STSKTRs).We then evaluated the relationship between these levels and graft function.Blood samples were collected from 50 adult LTSKTRs and 20 STSKTRs (graft survival approximately 1-3 years post-transplantation).All patients had stable kidney function.The samples were collected at our institution during the patients' follow-up examinations between March 2017 and September 2017.The plasma levels of TGF-β1,IL-10,and arginase-1 were analyzed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA).The levels of TGF-β1 and arginase-1 were significantly higher in the LTSKTRs than in the STSKTRs.The time elapsed since transplantation was positively correlated with the levels of TGF-β 1 and arginase-1 in the LTSKTRs.The estimated glomerular filtration rate was positively correlated with the TGF-β1 level,and the serum creatinine level was negatively correlated with the TGF-β1 level.Higher serum levels of TGF-β1 and arginase-1 were found in LTSKTRs than in STSKTRs,and we found that TGF-β1 was positively correlated with long-term graft survival and function.Additionally,TGF-β1 and arginase-1 levels were positively correlated with the time elapsed since transplantation.On the basis of these findings,TGF-β1 and arginase-1 may play important roles in determining long-term graft survival.Thus,we propose that TGF-β1 and arginase-1 may potentially be used as predictive markers for evaluating long-term graft survival.