Research of mHLA-G and the receptor expression with kidney rejection and CMV active infection following kidney transplantation

Abstract

Objective: To study the expression of membrane HLA-G (mHLA-G) and the receptor immunoglobulin-like transcript 2(ILT2) on lymphocyte and find their association with rejection and cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection after renal transplantation. Methods: A total of 88 cases of renal transplant recipients for the first time from February 2014 to February 2016 were studied in this work. Recipients can be divided into rejection group (n=12) and stable renal function group (n=41) according to whether rejection occurred. Recipients only infected CMV not developed rejection were included in the CMV positive group (n=24). CMV negative group (n=11) including CMV negative recipients once infected CMV.The expression of mHLA-G and ILT2 on lymphocytes were detected by flow cytometry, and the differences among different groups were analyzed. Results: The data showed that after renal transplantation, T and B lymphocytes mHLA-G expression rate was the lowest in the rejection group (0.42%±0.35%, 0.88%±0.47%), having significant difference with renal function stable group and CMV positive group (all P<0.01). In CMV positive group the expression of mHLA-G on T and B lymphocytes was the highest (1.31%±0.69%, 2.01%±0.91%), having significant difference with rejection group (P<0.001). The expression of mHLA-G on B cell was statistically significantly different between CMV positive group and CMV negative group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in ILT2 expression on B cell among the four groups (P>0.05). The expression rate of ILT2 on T cells was higher in the CMV positive group (36.91%±14.91%), having significant difference with the other three groups (P<0.01). Conclusions: Low expression of mHLA-G on T and B lymphocytes may predict rejection after renal transplantation. High expression of mHLA-G and ILT2 on lymphocytes is prone to CMV infection after renal transplantation .