Influence of recipient and donor IL-1α, IL-4, and TNFα genotypes on the incidence of acute renal allograft rejection

Aims: To determine whether polymorphisms of the genes encoding donor or recipient interleukin 1α (IL-1α), tumour necrosis factor α (TNFα), or IL-4 have any impact on the incidence of acute rejection after renal transplantation. Methods: All donors and recipients were genotyped for three polymorphisms in the three cytokine genes: IL1A −889, TNFA −308, and IL4 –590. Results: Statistical analysis of the data obtained revealed no association between the cytokine gene polymorphisms tested and the incidence of post-transplant acute rejection. After stratification for human leucocyte antigen (HLA) matching, it was found that kidneys from donors positive for the TNFA-A allele had a significantly increased incidence of acute rejection in HLA-DR mismatched transplants. Conclusions: This finding argues for prospective TNFA genotyping of renal donors, with avoidance of allocation of kidneys from donors positive for the TNFA-A allele to HLA-DR mismatched recipients.