Expression and significance of RANTES and MCP-1 in renal tissue with chronic active antibody-mediated rejection

Objective To investigate the expression of RANTES,monocyte chemoattractant protein 1(MCP-1) and collagen Ⅳ in renal allografts with chronic active antibody-mediated rejection (ABMR),and explore its relationship with ABMR-induced interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy (IF/TA).Method Immunohistochemical assay and computer-assisted genuine colored image analysis system were used to detect the expression of RANTES,MCP-1 and collagen Ⅳ in renal allografts with ABMR.The relationship between expression level of MCP-1,RANTES,collagen Ⅳ and the grade of inflammatory cell infiltration,interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy in renal allografts was analyzed.Ten specimens of healthy renal tissues were used as controls.Results Compared to the normal tissues,the expression levels of RANTES,MCP-1 and collagen Ⅳ were significantly increased in the renal tissues with ABMR (P＜0.001),and tended to increase along with the pathological grade of IF/TA.The expression of RANTES and MCP-1 was positively correlated with the pathological grades of IF/TA (r =0.940 and 0.954,respectively,P＜0.001 for both).Conclusion In renal allograft tissues with ABMR,the up-regulated expression levels of RANTES and MCP-1 may be related to the progression of the chronic renal allograft dysfunction and allograft fibrosis. Key words: Kidney transplantation;  ABMR;  RANTES;  MCP-1