BACKGROUND We recently demonstrated that oestrogens ameliorate the progression of chronic allograft nephropathy (CAN). In our present study, we investigated the role of progesterone and selective oestrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) in this process. METHODS Female Fisher (F344) kidneys were orthotopically transplanted into intact or ovariectomized female Lewis recipients. Ovariectomized reci...

BACKGROUND Nephrotoxicity of calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs) is partially responsible for the development of chronic allograft nephropathy (CAN). Sirolimus has demonstrated its potential to substitute for CNIs because it lacks significant nephrotoxicity and shows a short-term immunosuppressive capacity comparable with that of cyclosporine. This results in the maintenance of better renal function ...

Interaction between C5a, a product of complement activation, and its receptor (C5aR) upregulates antigen-specific T cell responses by modulating the activation of antigen-presenting cells and T cells. Whether this C5a-C5aR interaction contributes to the immune responses that promote renal allograft rejection is unknown. Here, we found that deficiency of C5aR in both graft and recipient reduced ...

BACKGROUND Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a well-recognized early complication in renal transplant recipients (RTR) and can have significant bearing on their outcome. The recent rise in incidence of extended spectrum beta lactamase (ESBL) producing bacteria causing UTI among RTR poses new and significant challenges in terms of management and outcome. Our aim is to analyze the effect of ESBL p...

A 33-year-old man received his second renal allograft, following loss of the ®rst graft after 10 years to chronic allograft nephropathy. His primary renal disease was obstructive uropathy secondary to posterior urethral valves. The second allograft was a 1u1u0 mismatch; T and B lymphocyte and FACS cross-matches were negative. The donor was anti-cytomegalovirus (CMV) IgG seropositive, while the ...

BACKGROUND Despite advances in the medical care of renal transplant recipients which have led to an improvement in allograft survival, renal allograft rejection is still a major obstacle to successful organ transplantation. Understanding the mechanisms contributing to allograft rejection will be of great importance for the development of efficient antirejection strategies. OBJECTIVE The aim o...

BACKGROUND Current regulations require that all cardiac allograft offers for transplantation must include an interpreted 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG). However, little is known about the expected ECG findings in potential organ donors or the clinical significance of any identified abnormalities in terms of cardiac allograft function and suitability for transplantation. METHODS AND RESULTS A...

CD4(+)CD25(+)FoxP3(+) regulatory T cells (Tregs) and Th17 cells are known to be involved in the alloreactive responses in organ transplantation, but little is known about the relationship between Tregs and Th17 cells in the context of liver alloresponse. Here, we investigated whether the circulating Tregs/Th17 ratio is associated with acute allograft rejection in liver transplantation. In prese...