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Assessment of CTLA-4 Gene Expression Levels on CD8+ T Cells in Renal Transplant Patients and Relation with Serum sCTLA-4 Levels

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Abstract

CTLA-4 (Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte Antigen-4) is an immune regulator molecule that is expressed on a variety of immune cells, including CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. After realizing the significance of this regulator molecule, researchers began to concentrate on its activation or inhibition in cancer. Even though there have been some studies on organ transplantation and autoimmunity, the role of the CTLA-4 molecule in renal transplantation has not been demonstrated. The goal of this study was to see how CTLA-4 gene expression and serum sCTLA-4 levels affected renal transplant patients. Peripheral blood samples were collected before and 1–3 months after renal transplantation from 29 recipients. CD8+ T lymphocytes were separated using magnetic beads and purity of the cells controlled by Flow cytometry. CTLA-4 mRNA levels were determined by Real-Time PCR while serum sCTLA-4 levels were assessed by ELISA. 55% of the patient had decreased level of CTLA-4 mRNA after transplantation when compared to pre-transplantation levels. Moreover 61% of the patient had lower serum sCTLA-4 levels after transplantation. sCTLA-4 levels were decreased 11% of the patients with rejection episode after transplantation when compared to stabile patients (5%). Kidney rejection is a complicated process influenced by numerous unknown factors. Several parameters should be evaluated together to precise rejection episodes or graft dysfunctions. Further research focused on the other immune checkpoint regulator molecules could give an opportunity to have an idea about the effect of these molecules on renal transplantation.

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Funding

This project was supported by Izmir Katip Celebi University Scientific Research Foundation (Project No: 2019-TDR-SABE-0006).

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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. BÇA, MS and MP designed, coordinated the study, analyzed the experiment and wrote the paper. TKA performed patient follow-up and revised the paper. ET, MT and HİKÇ follow-up the patients, analyzed the clinical situations of the patients. İP analyzed the results and revised the paper. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Burcu Çerçi Alkaç.

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The authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose.

Ethical Approval

Ethics committee approval was received for this study from Health Science University İzmir Tepecik Training and Research Hospital Clinical Research Ethical Committee with the number of 22.02.2019/03.

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Çerçi Alkaç, B., Soyöz, M., Pehlivan, M. et al. Assessment of CTLA-4 Gene Expression Levels on CD8+ T Cells in Renal Transplant Patients and Relation with Serum sCTLA-4 Levels. Biochem Genet (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10528-024-10723-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10528-024-10723-7

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