Toll-Like Receptor 3 mRNA Expression of Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells Identifies Kidney Recipients with Potential for Improved Graft Performance.

BACKGROUND Toll-like receptor 3 expression is detected both on the cell membrane and in endosomes of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Our goal in this study was to determine to what extent a single, baseline measurement of non-stimulated PBMC TLR3-mRNA can be related to baseline GFR (b-GFR) and post-follow-up-GFR (F-up-GFR) of a kidney transplant (KT) and baseline immunosuppression. MATERIAL AND METHODS In non-stimulated PBMC we investigated averaged mRNA expression of Toll-like receptor 3.

Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Antibodies Are Higher in Lupus Nephritis and Vasculitis than Other Glomerulonephritis Patients.

Angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R) antibodies are considered non-HLA (human leukocyte antigen) antibodies connected with humoral rejection after kidney transplantation. The role of AT1R antibodies in the pathogenesis of glomerular diseases and systemic vasculitis is unknown. We assessed the level of AT1R antibodies in 136 patients with different types of glomerulonephritis and systemic vasculitis and we observed kidney function and proteinuria, serum albumin and total protein levels for 2 years.

Anti-ETAR and suPAR as markers of disease activity in renal ANCA-associated vasculitis.

Purpose: In anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV), there is a lack of reliable biomarkers of disease activity. The aim of the study was to evaluate soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) and anti-endothelin-1 type A receptor (anti-ETAR) antibodies levels in active phase and remission of AAV.

Patients And Methods: We enrolled 60 patients (median age 63.

Comparing Humoral and Cellular Adaptive Immunity during Convalescent Phase of COVID-19 in Hemodialysis Patients and Kidney Transplant Recipients.

Background: It is still unclear whether COVID-19 convalescent kidney transplant recipients (KTR) and hemodialysis (HD) patients can develop anti-SARS-CoV-2 adaptive immunity. The aim was to characterize and compare the immune response to the virus in HD patients and KTR.

Methods: The study included 26 HD patients and 54 KTR-both convalescent (14 HD, 25 KTR) and unexposed.

Alpha-1 Acid Glycoprotein and Podocin mRNA as Novel Biomarkers for Early Glomerular Injury in Obese Children.

Introduction: Obesity, which is a serious problem in children, has a negative impact on many organs, including kidneys, and obesity-related glomerulopathy (ORG) is an increasingly common cause of ESKD (end-stage kidney disease) in adults. Early-detected and -treated glomerular lesions are reversible, so it is important to find a useful marker of early damage. The study aimed to evaluate the albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR), urinary alpha-1-acid glycoprotein (α1-AGP), and mRNA of podocyte-specific proteins as indicators of glomerular injury and their relationship with the degree of obesity and metabolic disorders.

Immune Cells Profiling in ANCA-Associated Vasculitis Patients-Relation to Disease Activity.

Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitides (AAV) are a group of necrotizing multiorgan autoimmune vasculitides that predominantly affect small blood vessels and are associated with the presence of ANCAs. The aim was to assess regulatory and effector cell populations accompanied by the suPAR biomarker level and link the so-defined immune state to the AAV disease activity. The research involved a multicomponent description of an immune state encompassing a range of B and T cell subsets such as transitional/regulatory B cells (CD19CD24CD38), naïve B cells (CD19CD24CD38), Th17 cells, T regulatory cells (CD4CD25FoxP3) and cytotoxic CD4CD28 cells by flow cytometry.

Immune Response to Vaccination against COVID-19 in Breastfeeding Health Workers.

Background: Initially, there were no data on the safety of COVID-19 vaccines in lactating women. The aim of our study was to evaluate the immune response to COVID-19 vaccinations in breastfeeding women.

Methods: The study included 32 breastfeeding women who, regardless of the study, had decided to be vaccinated.

Toll-Like 4 Receptor Expression on Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells in Renal Transplant Recipients Can Help to Indicate the Risk of Graft Deterioration in Patients Who Experienced an Episode of Symptomatic Cytomegalovirus Infection.

Unlabelled: Data binding the expression of Toll-like 4 receptor (TLR4), transplanted kidney (KT) function, and symptomatic CMV infection (CMV+) are scarcely available.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between TLR4 expression (TLR4ex) in patients who had a relapse of CMV and transplant function.

Materials And Methods: TLR4ex was measured in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of KT recipients.

Post-transplant Alternative Complement Pathway Activation Influences Kidney Allograft Function.

The complement system is one of the crucial pathophysiological mechanisms that directly influence the function of a transplanted kidney. Since the complement pathways' activation potential can be easily determined via their functional activity measurement, we focused on fluctuation in the cascade activity in the early post-transplant period. The aim of the study was to relate the kidney transplantation-induced complement system response to allograft outcome.

Kidney Transplant Outcome Is Associated with Regulatory T Cell Population and Gene Expression Early after Transplantation.

Successful long-term kidney allograft survival with parallel reduction of complications resulting from prolonged immunosuppressive treatment is a goal in kidney transplantation. We studied the immune changes in cell phenotypes and gene expression induced by kidney transplantation. Our goal was to find a phenotypic and/or transcriptional pattern that might be considered prognostic for the kidney transplant outcome.

Immune activation- and regulation-related patterns in stable hand transplant recipients.

We assessed cell subsets and expression of a set of genes related to the T-cell populations in peripheral blood mononuclear cells to elucidate whether immune status of stable hand transplant recipients (HTx) differs from stable kidney transplant recipients (KTx). The study was conducted on five HTx 4.8 ± 1.

CD3(+)CD8(+)CD28(-) T Lymphocytes in Patients with Lupus Nephritis.

The results of studies on the CD3(+)CD8(+)CD28(-) cells in SLE are inconsistent since several analyses describe CD3(+)CD8(+)CD28(-) as either immunosuppressive or cytotoxic. The aim of this study is to inquire whether the quantitative changes of CD3(+)CD8(+)CD28(-) T lymphocytes subpopulation are related to the clinical status of patients with lupus nephritis. Evaluation of Foxp3 expression on CD3(+)CD8(+)CD28(-) cells may shed some light on functional properties of these cells.

Pretransplant Immune- and Apoptosis-Related Gene Expression Is Associated with Kidney Allograft Function.

Renal transplant candidates present immune dysregulation, caused by chronic uremia. The aim of the study was to investigate whether pretransplant peripheral blood gene expression of immune factors affects clinical outcome of renal allograft recipients. Methods.

CD4(+)CD25(+)CD127(-) and CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) Regulatory T Cell Subsets in Mediating Autoimmune Reactivity in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients.

Unlabelled: The available clinical as well as experimental studies implicate participation of T regulatory (Treg) subsets in the pathogenesis and course of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Introduction of the CD4(+)CD25(+)CD127(-) and CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) regulatory subpopulations analysis into immunological processes assessment and disease activation prognosis in patients with lupus nephritis (LN) may improve monitoring of disease activity and enable an early, and thus more effective, therapeutic treatment. The main goal of the study was to investigate whether the quantitative changes of Treg subpopulations are related to the clinical status of patients with LN.

Increased Granulocyte Heparanase Activity in Neutrophils from Patients with Lupus Nephritis and Idiopathic Membranous Nephropathy.

Heparanase is a β-glucuronidase that cleaves sugar chains of heparan sulfate proteoglycans. It is believed that heparanase may be involved in the pathogenesis of proteinuria. The aim of this study was to assess the significance of heparanase in the pathogenesis of particular glomerulonephritis types.

Type of Renal Replacement Therapy (Hemodialysis versus Peritoneal Dialysis) Does Not Affect Cytokine Gene Expression or Clinical Parameters of Renal Transplant Candidates.

Unlabelled: Patients with renal failure suffer from immune disturbances, caused by uremic toxins and influenced by dialysis treatment. The aim of the present study was to reveal whether type of dialysis modality (hemodialysis, HD, versus peritoneal dialysis, PD) differentially affects the immunocompetence, particularly the expression of genes involved in the immune response.

Material: 87 renal transplant candidates (66 HD, 21 PD) were included in the study.

The influence of non-HLA antibodies directed against angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R) on early renal transplant outcomes.

Non-HLA antibodies (Abs) targeting vascular receptors are thought to have an impact on renal transplant injury. Anti-angiotensin II type 1-receptor-activating antibodies (anti-AT1R) have been mentioned to stimulate a severe vascular rejection, but the pretransplant screening has not been introduced yet. The aim of our study was to assess the incidence and importance of anti-AT1R antibodies and their influence on renal transplant in the 1st year of observation.

The impact of non-HLA antibodies directed against endothelin-1 type A receptors (ETAR) on early renal transplant outcomes.

Background: Non-HLA antibodies (Abs) targeting vascular receptors are considered to have an influence on renal transplant injury. Anti-endothelin-1 type A receptor (anti-ETAR) antibodies were associated with cellular and antibody-mediated rejection and early onset of vasculopathy in heart transplant patients but their role in renal transplantation remains unclear. The aim of our study was to assess the incidence and importance of anti-ETAR antibodies and their impact on renal transplant during the first year observation.

The complement cascade and renal disease.

Serum complement cascade, a part of innate immunity required for host protection against invading pathogens, is also a mediator of various forms of disease and injury. It is activated by classical, lectin, and alternative pathways that lead to activation of C3 component by C3 convertases, release of C3b opsonin, C5 conversion and eventually membrane attack complex formation. The tightly regulated activation process yields also C3a and C5a anaphylatoxins, which target a broad spectrum of immune and non-immune cells.