mRNA Expression of BAFF and APRIL Receptors Increases in Acute Rejection in Kidney Transplant Recipients.

M. Minz,¹ R. Dhital,¹ R. Minz,² A. Sharma,¹ R. Nada,³ S. Singh,¹ D. Kenwar.¹

¹Renal Transplant Surgery, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
²Immunopathology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
³Histopathology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.

Meeting: 2016 American Transplant Congress

Abstract number: 134

Keywords: Gene expression, Kidney transplantation, Rejection

Session Information

Session Name: Concurrent Session: Kidney Immune Monitoring 1

Session Type: Concurrent Session

Date: Sunday, June 12, 2016

Session Time: 4:30pm-6:00pm

Presentation Time: 4:54pm-5:06pm

Location: Ballroom C

Introduction:

BAFF and APRIL are known survival and growth of B- cells.

BAFF and APRIL share two receptors i-TACI and ii- BCMA. Additionally, BAFF has strong affinity to BAFF receptor (BAFF-R).

We intend to study the mRNA expression of BAFFR, TACI and BCMA in peripheral mononuclear cells of kidney transplant recipients during acute rejection.

Methodology:

Peripheral blood was collected from all patients before transplantation and were followed up for one year after transplantation. Blood samples were collected at 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 12 months and at the time of rejection before initiation of anti- rejection therapy.

mRNA was isolated from PBMCs, converted to cDNA and stored at -80[deg]C. These cDNA were used to quantify mRNA expression level of BAFF-R, TACI and BCMA by Real time PCR (Light Cycler 480, Roche Diagnostics, Germany) using RT2 profiler PCR Array (CAPH12966F, QIAGEN). The expression level was calculated as fold change using the formula 2^(-[Delta][Delta]CT).

Percentage of CD20+ B- cells in peripheral circulation was calculated by flow cytometry. All the values are expressed as the mean ± standard error of mean (SEM). P value less than 0.05 was taken as statistically significant.

Result:

This study includes 76 first kidney transplant recipients who were divided into two groups: Rejection group (N=36) and Non Rejection group (NR, N=40).

Normalizing the pre- transplant gene expression level as 1, we found a significant rise in the gene expression level of BAFF-R (15.43 ± 4.469, P= 0.0027), TACI (5.425 ± 1.457, P= 0.0045) and BCMA (2.621 ± 0.7485, P= 0.0372) at the time of rejection. At the same time, we could also demonstrate a significant rise in peripheral percentage CD20+ B- cells during the rejection. we could not demonstrate significant changes in mRNA expression level of these genes in patients with stable graft function at post- 1 month, 3 month and 6 months of transplantation.

Conclusion:

There is an increase in mRNA expression of BAFFR, TACI and BCMA during rejection resulting in increase number of B- cells in peripheral blood. These molecular parameters might be used as predictive biomarker of acute rejection in Kidney transplant recipients.

CITATION INFORMATION: Minz M, Dhital R, Minz R, Sharma A, Nada R, Singh S, Kenwar D. mRNA Expression of BAFF and APRIL Receptors Increases in Acute Rejection in Kidney Transplant Recipients. Am J Transplant. 2016;16 (suppl 3).

To cite this abstract in AMA style:

Minz M, Dhital R, Minz R, Sharma A, Nada R, Singh S, Kenwar D. mRNA Expression of BAFF and APRIL Receptors Increases in Acute Rejection in Kidney Transplant Recipients. [abstract]. Am J Transplant. 2016; 16 (suppl 3). https://atcmeetingabstracts.com/abstract/mrna-expression-of-baff-and-april-receptors-increases-in-acute-rejection-in-kidney-transplant-recipients/. Accessed July 5, 2025.

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