Analysis of IL-17A, IL-17F, and miR-146a-5p Prior to Transplantation and Their Role in Kidney Transplant Recipients.

: The balance between regulatory and Th17 cells plays an important role in maintaining the immune tolerance after kidney transplantation (KTx) which is essential for transplantation success, defined as a long graft survival and an absence of organ rejection. The present study aimed to assess whether the pretransplant characteristics of IL-17A and IL-17F, their receptors, as well as miR-146a-5p, an miRNA associated with IL-17A/F regulation, can predict KTx outcomes. : A group of 108 pre-KTx dialysis patients and 125 healthy controls were investigated for single nucleotide substitutions within genes coding for , , their / receptors, and . Genotyping was performed using LightSNiP assays. In addition, IL17-A/F serum concentrations were determined using ELISA while miR-146a-5p expression was analyzed by RT-PCR. : The (rs763780) allele prevailed in KTx recipients as compared to healthy individuals (OR = 23.59, < 0.0001) and was associated with a higher IL-17F serum level ( = 0.0381) prior to transplantation. Higher miR-146a-5p expression before KTx was more frequently detected in recipients with an increased IL-17A serum concentration ( = 0.0177). Moreover, (rs2275913) homozygosity was found to be associated with an increased incidence of deaths before KTx (OR = 4.17, = 0.0307). T-cell or acute rejection episodes were more frequently observed among patients with the allele of (rs2910164) (OR = 5.38, = 0.0531). genetic variants ( < 0.05) seem to be associated with eGFR values. : These results imply that (rs763780) polymorphism is associated with the serum level of this cytokine and may be related to the risk of renal disease and transplant rejection together with (rs2910164), while the (rs2275913) genotype may affect patients' survival before KTx.