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Blood and intragraft CD27 gene expression in cardiac transplant recipients
Andrey Morgun1, Natalia Shulzhenko, Gisele F Rampim
1Division of Immunogenetics, Department of Pediatrics, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP-EPM), Rua Napoleão de Barros 1038, São Paulo, SP 04024-003, Brazil. anemorgun@hotmail.com
Insights
Investigating gene expression of costimulatory molecule CD27 in heart transplant recipients revealed that higher intragraft CD27 mRNA levels may indicate a risk for acute cardiac rejection.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Molecular Biology
- Cardiology
Background:
- Acute cardiac rejection remains a significant challenge in heart transplantation.
- Biomarkers are needed to predict and manage rejection episodes.
- Costimulatory molecules play a crucial role in immune responses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the gene expression of costimulatory molecule CD27 in relation to acute cardiac rejection.
- To determine if CD27 mRNA levels in endomyocardial biopsies and blood can predict rejection risk.
Main Methods:
- Quantitative competitive reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used.
- CD27 transcripts were measured in 120 endomyocardial biopsies and 89 blood mononuclear cell samples from 31 recipients.
Main Results:
- Higher CD27 transcript levels were observed in biopsies with rejection compared to those without (medians, 7.1 vs. 1.9; P = 0.06).
- Blood mononuclear cells during rejection showed lower CD27 levels than during rejection-free periods (medians, 3.3 vs. 7.9; P = 0.03).
- In non-rejected biopsies, lower CD27 expression was linked to a lower incidence of rejection in the first 6 months post-transplant (medians, 0 vs. 3.5, P < 0.001).
Conclusions:
- Intragraft CD27 mRNA expression may serve as a predictive marker for acute cardiac rejection.
- Monitoring CD27 gene expression could help identify heart transplant recipients at risk.
- This finding has implications for personalized post-transplant management and monitoring.
Abstract:
The present study investigated gene expression of costimulatory molecule CD27 in relation to the occurrence of acute cardiac rejection. CD27 transcripts were measured by means of quantitative competitive reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction in 120 endomyocardial biopsies and in 89 samples of blood mononuclear cells from 31 recipients. Higher levels of CD27 transcripts were observed in biopsies with rejection than in samples without rejection (medians, 7.1 and 1.9; P = 0.06). In contrast, blood mononuclear cells collected during rejection showed lower levels than blood mononuclear cells from rejection-free periods (medians, 3.3 vs. 7.9; P = 0.03). Considering only endomyocardial biopsies without rejection, the values were lower in samples from recipients who did not present any rejection during the first 6 months after transplantation than in those from recipients who had at least one rejection during the same period (medians, 0 vs. 3.5, P < 0.001; percentage of biopsies expressing CD27, 44% vs. 77%). In conclusion, the presence of intragraft CD27 mRNA may identify recipients at risk for developing acute rejection.