The Impact of HLA-G and HLA-E Polymorphisms on CMV Reinfection in Liver Transplant Recipients.

Background: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) reinfection in transplant patients has been associated with graft loss and decreased patient survival. In this regard, the HLA-G molecule has the immunomodulatory characteristic and its soluble isoforms have important roles in immunity to viruses. The 14bp insertion/deletion polymorphism impacts HLA-G mRNA stability.

Influence of p53 (rs1625895) polymorphism in kidney transplant recipients.

Reperfusion injury predisposes the kidney allograft to acute rejection. Apoptosis is a mechanism that results in graft injury, and TP53 is an important involved gene. To determine the association between single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the pro-apoptotic protein p53 (rs1625895) and acute rejection in renal transplants, we studied 100 recipients of kidney allografts and 100 healthy individuals served as controls.

Association between E23K variant in KCNJ11 gene and new-onset diabetes after liver transplantation.

New-onset diabetes after transplantation (NODAT) is an important complication after solid organ transplantation. NODAT is a polygenic disease and KCNJ11 E23K polymorphism is considered as a diabetes-susceptibility gene. The present study aimed to assess the association between KCNJ11 (rs5219) variants and the risk of developing NODAT after liver transplantation.

HLA-G polymorphism (rs16375) and acute rejection in liver transplant recipients.

Background: HLA-G molecules exhibit immunomodulatory properties that can delay graft rejection. The 14 bp insertion/deletion polymorphism (INDEL) (rs16375) influences the stability of final HLA-G mRNA and its soluble isoforms.

Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the possible association between this polymorphism and the incidence of acute rejection in Iranian liver transplant recipients.

Human islet cell isolation: the initial step in an islet transplanting program in Shiraz, Southern Iran.

Objectives: Type 1 diabetes mellitus is an emerging epidemic worldwide and results from autoimmune destruction of insulin-producing β cells. Islet transplanting is a potential treatment for type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Materials And Methods: The Shiraz Organ Transplant Center is a leading center for organ transplants, especially pancreatic transplants, in Iran.

Influence of endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene polymorphisms (-786T/C, 4a4b, 894G/T) on Iranian kidney transplant recipients.

Objectives: Nitric oxide is a major mediator in vascular biology and regulator of regional blood flow. Its production is catalyzed by the enzyme endothelial nitric oxide synthase. Protective actions of nitric oxide in ischemia and reperfusion are due to its potential as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent, along with its inhibitory effects on cell signaling pathways of nuclear proteins, such as NF-kB.

Prevalence of GJB2 (CX26) gene mutations in south Iranian patients with autosomal recessive nonsyndromic sensorineural hearing loss.

Hereditary hearing loss is a genetically heterogeneous disorder. Mutations in connexin 26 (CX26), are a major cause in many countries and are largely dependent on ethnic groups. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the prevalence of GJB2 mutations among affected individuals from south of Iran.

The interleukin-6 and vascular endothelial growth factor in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

We studied the correlation between changes in the serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) with complications such as acute graft versus host disease (aGVHD), veno-occlusive disease (VOD) or occurrence of infection after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Serum VEGF and IL-6 levels were sequentially measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA) in 35 patients who had undergone HSCT. Serum levels of IL-6 in patients with aGVHD were increased in comparison with patients without aGVHD, but the difference was not statistically significant.

Association between tacrolimus concentration and genetic polymorphisms of CYP3A5 and ABCB1 during the early stage after liver transplant in an Iranian population.

Objectives: Tacrolimus is widely used as an immunosuppressive drug in liver transplant recipients with a narrow therapeutic range and variable individualized pharmacokinetics. Tacrolimus is a substrate of cytochrome P-450 3A enzyme and the drug transporter, P-glycoprotein.

Materials And Methods: We determined the genotypic frequencies of cytochrome P-4503A5 (rs776746), and ABCB1 (rs1045642), single nucleotide polymorphisms in a population of 100 Iranian liver transplant patients, and investigated the influence of the above-mentioned single nucleotide polymorphisms on tacrolimus concentrations.

The frequency and distribution of thiopurine S-methyltransferase alleles in south Iranian population.

Thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT) catalyzes the S-methylation of thiopurine drugs such as 6-mercaptopurine, 6-thioguanine, and azathiopurine. Variability in TPMT activity is mainly due to genetic polymorphism. The frequency of the four allelic variants of the TPMT gene, TPMT*2 (G238C), TPMT*3A (G460A and A719G), TPMT*3B (G460A) and TPMT*3C (A719G) were determined in an Iranian population from south of Iran (n = 500), using polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-RFLP and allele-specific PCR-based assays.

Thiopurine S-methyltransferase polymorphism in Iranian kidney transplant recipients.

Objectives: Thiopurine S-methyltransferase is an enzyme that catalyzes S-methylation of azathioprine as an immunosuppressive drug. Genetic polymorphisms influence thiopurine S-methyltransferase activity. There are 3 variant alleles: thiopurine S-methyltransferase*2, *3A, and *3C are responsible for more than 95% cases of low-enzyme activity.

Study the polymorphism of CYP3A5 and CYP3A4 loci in Iranian population with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Cancer reflects a complicated network of interactions between genes and environmental factors. Cytochrome P450 (CYP) is a multi-gene superfamily participating in the metabolism of xenobiotics. The aim of our study was to examine whether polymorphisms in the CYP enzyme genes affect the risk of developing larynx squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).

Frequency of HLA-G exon 8 polymorphisms and kidney allograft outcome in Iranian population.

The 14-bp polymorphism in exon 8 of the HLA-G gene is associated with HLA-G mRNA stability and the patterns of alternative isoform splicing and may influence the functionality of the HLA-G molecule. HLA-G expression was related to allograft acceptance and fewer episodes of acute rejection during heart, kidney and liver-kidney transplantation. In order to determine a possible correlation between the 14-bp insertion/deletion polymorphism and kidney allograft outcome in our population, genomic DNA was isolated from 144 patients who had received isolated kidney allografts.

Investigation of allele and genotype frequencies of CYP2C9, CYP2C19 and VKORC1 in Iran.

Research has shown that there are significant ethnic variations in the frequency of highly functional mutations in genes coding for metabolic enzymes. However, few studies have examined the frequency distribution of major allelic variations within the population of Iran. The present study focused on the genotype profile of southern Iranians in order to compare the allelic frequencies of CYP2C9, CYP2C19, and VKORC1 -1639G>A (all of which have been shown to have significant roles in the metabolism of warfarin) with those of other populations.

Vitamin D receptor genotypes and kidney allograft rejection.

Objective: Transplantation of renal grafts is an established treatment for renal failure in a variety of medical conditions. Polymorphisms in genes, coding for proteins involved in immune response, may influence immunological and non-immunological mechanisms that lead to allograft loss. Vitamin D receptor (VDR) agonist has been shown to reduce short and long term allograft rejection in animal model.

Interleukin-7 receptor-alpha gene polymorphisms in bone marrow transplant recipients.

Graft-versus-host disease is the main complication after hematopoietic stem cells transplantation (HSCT). Non-HLA genotypes, such as cytokines, have been investigated for their potential roles in the occurrence and severity of GVHD as well as for their contribution to overall transplant-related mortality and survival. IL-7 which is secreted by bone marrow stromal cells plays an important role in the development and survival of T cells.

Influence of glutathione S-transferase M1 and T1 polymorphisms with acute rejection in Iranian liver transplant recipients.

Glutathione-S-transferase (GST) has a major protective role against free radicals and plays a vital role in phase II of biotransformation of many substances. In liver transplantation, reperfusion injury, calcineurin drug consumption and infection produce free radicals that cause tissue injury and organ damage. Genetic variations of GST may influence individual susceptibility to some diseases associated with the deleterious effects of oxidative metabolism.

Modification of Diet in Renal Disease equation underestimates glomerular filtration rate in Egyptian kidney donors.

Objectives: Inulin clearance and radioisotope studies are the most accurate means of measuring glomerular filtration rates (GFRs). The Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative guidelines recommend estimating GFRs with the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) or the Cockcroft- Gault equation. We examined the accuracy of the MDRD equation and creatinine clearance based on 24-hour urine collection to predict GFRs in a group of healthy donors.

Influence of recipient and donor IL-10, TNFA and INFG genotypes on the incidence of acute renal allograft rejection.

Objective: Transplantation of renal grafts is an established treatment for renal failure in a variety of medical conditions. Acute allograft rejection remains an important cause of morbidity after kidney transplantation, and has been shown to be a crucial determinant of long-term graft function. Although rejection is mediated by recipient lymphocytes, both donor and recipient factors contribute to the local environment that influences the severity of rejection response.

Interleukin-10 gene polymorphism in bone marrow transplant recipients.

Objectives: Graft-versus-host disease is the main complication after hematopoietic stem cell transplant, occurring even after donor and recipient human leukocyte antigen matching, apparently because of donor/recipient minor histocompatibility antigen mismatches and cytokine polymorphisms. Interleukin-10 suppresses several activities of the immune response by inhibiting T helper 1 and T helper 2 cells. These properties suggest that interleukin-10 could act as a suppressive mediator and prevent graft-versus-host disease.

Polymorphism of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase C677T gene with chronic allograft nephropathy in renal transplant recipients.

Objectives: This study sought to investigate the frequency of the 5, 10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene (MTHFR C677T) in 127 patients (77 with chronic allograft nephropathy and 50 with normal renal function) who had undergone a renal transplant at least 20 months earlier to define the risk factors for chronic allograft dysfunction. Fifty healthy subjects served as controls.

Materials And Methods: Genotypes were determined using polymerase chain reaction followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis.