Objective: To investigate the relationship between the level of Foxp3 mRNA in the peripheral blood monocytes (PBMCs) with acute rejection or chronic allograft nephropathy after kidney allotransplantation.
Methods: Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to examine Foxp3 mRNA expression in the PBMCs from 16 patients with acute rejection, 8 patients with chronic allograft nephropathy, 8 patients at stable stage after kidney transplantation, 8 patients of end-stage renal disease, and 8 normal controls.
Results: The level of Foxp3 mRNA in the PBMCs was significantly lower in patients with acute rejection than that in patients with chronic allograft nephropathy (P<0.01). Foxp3 mRNA expression was significantly lower in patients with chronic allograft nephropathy than that in the normal controls, the end-stage renal disease group, and stable stage group (P<0.01). The level of Foxp3 mRNA was not significantly different in the PBMCs among the normal controls, the end-stage renal disease group, and the stable stage group (P>0.05).
Conclusion: The level of Foxp3 mRNA expressed in PBMCs can reflect the status of renal allograft, and may be a noninvasive biomarker for diagnosing acute rejection and chronic allograft nephropathy.