Clinical characteristics of 15 cases of renal transplantation with preexsiting donorspecific antibody.

Objectives: Currently, patients with pre-exsiting donor-specific antibody (DSA) are prone to antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) after surgery and are at a relatively high risk of postoperative complications and graft failure. The risk of postoperative complications and graft failure is relatively high. This study aims to discuss the clinical outcome of DSA-positive kidney transplantation and analyze the role and safety of preoperative pretreatment in DSA-positive kidney transplantation, providing single-center treatment experience for DSA-positive kidney transplantation.

Exploration of the mechanism of NORAD activation of TGF-β1/Smad3 through miR-136-5p and promotion of tacrolimus-induced renal fibrosis.

Background: Tacrolimus is a potent immunosuppressant, but has various side effects, with nephrotoxicity being the most common. Renal fibrosis is an important process of tacrolimus nephrotoxicity. Therefore, it is important to identify the factors that contribute to renal fibrosis after tacrolimus nephrotoxicity, and control its development.

Elevated Circulating IL-10 Producing Breg, but Not Regulatory B Cell Levels, Restrain Antibody-Mediated Rejection After Kidney Transplantation.

Background: Antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) occupies a major position for chronic rejection after kidney transplantation. Regulatory B cell (Breg) has been reported to have an inhibitory immune function, which contributes to the resistance for AMR.

Methods: A nested case-control study for nine healthy donors, 25 stable (ST) patients, and 18 AMR patients was performed to determine the type of Breg in maintaining immune tolerance and preventing AMR.

Transplantation of a single kidney from pediatric donors less than 10 kg to children with poor access to transplantation: a two-year outcome analysis.

Background: Access to kidney transplantation by uremic children is very limited due to the lack of donors in many countries. We sought to explore small pediatric kidney donors as a strategy to provide transplant opportunities for uremic children.

Methods: A total of 56 cases of single pediatric kidney transplantation and 26 cases of en bloc kidney transplantation from pediatric donors with body weight (BW) less than 10 kg were performed in two transplant centers in China and the transplant outcomes were retrospectively analyzed.

miR-136 improves renal fibrosis in diabetic rats by targeting down-regulation of tyrosine kinase SYK and inhibition of TGF-β1/Smad3 signaling pathway.

To investigate the way that miR-136 regulated spleen tyrosine kinase (SYK) and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)/Smad3 signaling pathways on renal fibrosis. 100 male SD (Sprague-Dawley) rats were randomly divided into diabetic nephropathy (DN) group, normal control (NC) group, miR-136 mimics group, and control group. The renal fibrosis model of diabetic rats was established by streptozotocin (STZ) method.

Immature dendritic cells derived exosomes promotes immune tolerance by regulating T cell differentiation in renal transplantation.

Objective: To investigate the mechanism of immature dendritic cells-derived exosomes (imDECs) in the regulation of T cell differentiation and immune tolerance in renal allograft model mice.

Results: imDECs significantly improved the percent of survival, relieved inflammatory response, and reduced CD4+T cell infiltration. In addition, imDECs reduced the rejection associated cytokines in allograft mice, and increased the percentage of Foxp3+CD4+T cells in spleen and kidney tissues.

Bortezomib ameliorates acute allograft rejection after renal transplant by inhibiting Tfh cell proliferation and differentiation via miR-15b/IRF4 axis.

Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the functional role of bortezomib in the development of acute allograft rejection (AR) after renal transplant.

Methods: The mouse model of AR was established by allograft kidney transplant followed by the treatment of bortezomib. The serum cytokines, renal function, and the percentage of T follicular helper (Tfh) cells in CD4 T cells were measured.

Inhibition of lncRNA MEG3 protects renal tubular from hypoxia-induced kidney injury in acute renal allografts by regulating miR-181b/TNF-α signaling pathway.

Early damage to transplanted organs initiates excess inflammation that deteriorates existing injury, which is a leading cause of graft loss. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are recently thought to play a significant role in cellular homeostasis during pathological process of kidney diseases. The aim of this study was to assess the function and mechanism of lncRNA, maternally expressed gene 3 (MEG3), on early renal allografts pathogenesis.

Over-expressed microRNA-181a reduces glomerular sclerosis and renal tubular epithelial injury in rats with chronic kidney disease via down-regulation of the TLR/NF-κB pathway by binding to CRY1.

Background: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) contribute to the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) by regulating renal homeostasis. This study explored the effects of miR-181a on CKD through the Toll-like receptor (TLR)/nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) pathway by binding to CRY1.

Methods: Seventy male rats were selected and assigned into specific groups: miR-181a mimic, miR-181a inhibitor, and siRNA against CRY1, with each group undergoing different treatments to investigate many different outcomes.

Long non-coding RNA GAS5 sensitizes renal cell carcinoma to sorafenib via miR-21/SOX5 pathway.

Although the use of sorafenib appears to increase the survival rate of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) patients, there is also a proportion of patients who exhibit a poor primary response to sorafenib treatment. Therefore, it is critical to elucidate the mechanisms underlying sorafenib resistance and find representative biomarkers for sorafenib treatment in RCC patients. Herein, we identified that a long noncoding RNA GAS5 was downregulated in sorafenib nonresponsive RCCs.

Experimental studies on islets isolation, purification and function in rats.

To develop a simple and effective method of islet isolation and purification in rats. Collagenase P was injected into pancreatic duct followed by incubation in water bath to digest the pancreas and isolate islet, then discontinuous gravity gradient purification was used to purify the islet. The purified islets were identified by dithizone staining.

Donor kidney glomerular filtration rate and donor/recipient body surface area ratio influence graft function in living related kidney transplantation.

Objective: This study seeks to account for the possibility that single kidney glomerular filtration rate (SKGFR) and donor/recipient (D/R) body surface area (BSA) ratio could act as cofactors for evaluating potential living related donors.

Methods: The study population included 204 cases of LKRs with a functional graft that were regularly followed up for more than 2 years. Based on SKGFR and D/R BSA ratio, the recipients were divided into six groups: group A (SKGFR < 40 mL/min, D/R BSA ratio ≤ 0.

Kidney transplantation from pediatric donors in a single Chinese center.

To report clinical outcomes of kidney transplantation from pediatric brain and cardiac death donors (DBCD) in a single Chinese center and to investigate its feasibility to expand organ donor pool. 18 recipients, transplanted between August 2011 and October 2013 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, receive a single graft from DBCD donors age ranged from 1.5 to 13 years old.

Reduced ATG-F dosage for induction in pediatric renal transplantation: a single-center experience.

Rabbit antithymocyte globulin (ATG-F) is an extensively used induction agent. To our knowledge, no study to date has assessed reduced ATG-F dosage in children undergoing renal transplantation. This was a retrospective analysis of pediatric renal recipients in the Department of Kidney Transplantation, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, from May 2007 to February 2013.

Panel-reactive antibody levels and renal transplantation rates in sensitized patients after desensitization and human leucocyte antigen amino acid residue matching.

Objective: To determine whether a new desensitization protocol (mycophenolate mofetil [MMF], plasmapheresis and antithymocyte globulin [ATG], complemented with human leucocyte antigen [HLA] amino acid residue matching) could reduce panel-reactive antibody (PRA) levels in sensitized patients, to facilitate successful renal transplantation.

Methods: Patients awaiting transplantation with PRA levels >10% received treatment with MMF; those with PRA levels >30% were also treated with plasmapheresis. Patients whose PRA level was <20% after desensitization were eligible for transplantation.

[Co-culture of cryopreserved rat islets with small intestinal submucosa].

Objective: To investigate the feasibility and benefits of co-culture of cryopreserved islets with small intestinal submucosa (SIS).

Methods: Purified rat islets cryopreserved for one month were divided into SIS group and control group, and after culture in standard islet culture media RPMI1640 for 1 week, the morphology and function of the islets were assessed.

Results: The SIS protects the fragile islets from damage by cryopreservation, and increased the recovery from (60.

[Cryopreservation of microencapsulated rat islets].

Objective: To investigate the role of alginate-polylysine-alginate (APA) microcapsules in protecting rat islet cells in cryopreservation.

Method: Purified rat islet cells microencapsulated with APA and free islet cells were cryopreserved for one month and then thawed for culture in RPMI 1640 overnight. The morphology of the cells was observed and their function assessed by stimulated insulin release test.

Small intestinal submucosa improves islet survival and function during in vitro culture.

Aim: To evaluate the recovery and function of isolated rat pancreatic islets during in vitro culture with small intestinal submucosa (SIS).

Methods: Pancreatic islets were isolated from Wistar rats by standard surgical procurement followed by intraductal collagenase distension, mechanical dissociation and Euroficoll purification. Purified islets were cultured in plates coated with multilayer SIS (SIS-treated group) or without multilayer SIS (standard cultured group) for 7 and 14 d in standard islet culture media of RPMI 1640.

Effect of small intestinal submucosa on islet recovery and function in vitro culture.

Background: The ability to maintain isolated human islet preparation in tissue culture has recently been adopted by most islet transplant centers to improve the safety and practicality of islet transplantation. However, maintaining islet viability and recovery remains a challenge in clinical setting. Extracellular matrix (ECM) is one of the most important components of islet microenvironment.