Ad. Schachter et al., Increased nuclear factor-kappa B and angiotensinogen gene expression in postransplant recurrent focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, TRANSPLANT, 70(7), 2000, pp. 1107-1110
In an attempt to identify potential markers of steroid-resistance in focal
segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) we evaluated intra-graft gene expressio
n of I kappaB alpha, nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB), and angiotensinogen
in 60 biopsies from 27 pediatric renal transplant recipients. Intra-graft
NF-kappaB expression was significantly elevated in recurrent FSGS (R-FSGS)
(218.3 + 55.6 ag/fg versus NON-FSGS 121.1 + 19.9, P=0.04) but not in acute
rejection. NF-kappaB:I kappaB alpha ratios were higher in cadaveric donor v
ersus living related donor recipients (15.7 + 2.8 vs. 8.8 + 1.3, respective
ly, P=0.015), and in African-American versus Caucasian recipients (15.6 + 2
.9 vs. 9.1 + 1.3, respectively, P=0.03). Intra-graft angiotensinogen gene e
xpression was significantly elevated in R-FSGS (30.5 + 8.8 ag/fg R-FSGS vs.
16.0 + 4.7 NON-FSGS, P=0.009), We conclude that increased NF-kappaB and an
giotensinogen gene expression are associated with R-FSGS. Increased NF-kapp
aB:I kappaB alpha ratios are associated with cadaveric donor recipients and
African-American race.