Open AccessThe TNF‐α system after successful living‐related kidney transplantation
Author(s) -
Overbeeke I.C. van Riemsdijkvan,
. Baan C C.,
Loonen E.H.M.,
Hesse C.J.,
Zietse R.,
Gelder T.,
Weimar W.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
transplant international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.998
H-Index - 82
eISSN - 1432-2277
pISSN - 0934-0874
DOI - 10.1111/j.1432-2277.1998.tb01181.x
Subject(s) - medicine , receptor , cytokine , tumor necrosis factor alpha , immunocompetence , kidney , immune system , renal function , transplantation , immunology , endocrinology , kidney transplantation
The TNF‐α system is thought to play a central role in the reduced immunity of haemodialysis patients. The imbalance between the high levels of soluble TNF receptors R1 and R2 and the low levels of immunoactive TNF‐α results in an increased TNF‐α buffering capacity leading to reduced immune responses. Apart from impaired renal clearance of the receptors, inefficient TNF‐α production as a result of the uraemia may also contribute to the imbalance between this cytokine and its receptors. In patients receiving a living‐related kidney transplant, renal function is nearly normalized in a very short period. This restoration of renal function may result in a state of better immunocompetence, either as a result of improved clearance of the receptors or as a result of reversal of the uraemic state. To differentiate between these two possibilities, we measured TNF‐a protein, mRNA and the soluble TNF receptors R1