Apoptosis of tubular epithelial cells in preimplantation biopsies of kidney grafts with immediate, slow and delayed function.

Background: Apoptosis is a form of cell death observed in kidney grafts as a result of ischemia/reperfusion injury. The aim of our prospective study was to analyze the intensity of apoptosis in kidney tubules after cold storage in respect to early and 12-month post-transplant graft function.

Material/methods: The intensity of renal tubular apoptosis was estimated by TUNEL method in proximal and distal tubules in 72 pre-implantation kidney biopsies.