Change of serum soluble B7-H3 in renal transplantation receptor and its clinical significance

Objective To detect the serum soluble B7-H3 (sB7-H3) in patients before and after renal transplantation, and to investigate the clinical significance. Methods The serum level of sB7-H3 in 34 patients were determined before and 3, 6, 12 months after renal transplantation. Besides, 11 health adults were elected as controls. These 34 patients were divided into two groups according to HLA and/or MICA antibodies using Luminex before operation. After transplantation, all the patients were divided into two groups according to their conditions; group Ⅰ with rejection; group S with stable renal function and no rejection. Results The serum level of sB7-H3 in all 34 patients before operation was significantly higher than health controls [(27. 10 ± 13. 61) μg/L,n = 34 vs (11.61 ±3.77) μg/L,n = 11 ,P ＜0. 01], and significantly higher in patients with antibodies than in those without before operation [(34. 96 ± 17. 37) (μ/L, n = 11 vs (23. 34 ± 9. 75) (μg/L, n = 23, P ＜ 0. 05]. There was no significant difference in the serum level of sB7-H3 between control group and S group after operation (P ＞0. 05). In group Ⅰ, the serum level of sB7-H3 was increased obviously when rejection occurred [(20. 63 ±4. 28) μg/L,n = 12; (18. 95 ±2.98) μg/L,n=6; (28.36 ±19. 83) μg/L,n = 10] , as compared with group S and control group (P＜0. 01), while at the time without rejection, there was no difference among them (P ＞0. 05). Conclusion Monitoring serum sB7-H3 after renal transplantation would be clinically useful in indicating therapeutic effect and outcome of the patients. Key words: Renal transplantation; Soluble B7-H3; Transplantation immunity