Th1/Th2 Cytokines and Soluble CD30 Levels in Kidney Allograft Patients With Donor Bone Marrow Cell Infusion

ObjectiveWe investigated the relevance of donor bone marrow cell infusion (DBMI) and serum levels of interferon-γ (IFN-γ), interleukin-10 (IL-10), and soluble CD30 (sCD30) in kidney recipients.Patients and MethodsWe analyzed the allograft outcomes correlated with sCD30, IFN-γ, and IL-10 levels using pre- and posttransplantation sera from 40 live donor renal transplants (20 patients with DBMI [2.1 × 109 ± 1.3 × 109 mononuclear cells/body] and 20 controls).ResultsPatients with acute rejection episodes (ARE)—3/20 DBMI and 6/20 controls—showed increased sCD30 and IFN-γ as well as decreased IL-10 posttransplantation compared with nonrejectors. Significant differences were observed for sCD30 and IFN-γ levels: 59.54 vs 30.92 ng/mL (P = .02) and 11.91 vs 3.01 pg/mL (P = .01), respectively. Comparison of pre- and posttransplant levels of IFN-γ, IL-10, and sCD30 in ARE patients showed higher levels in posttransplant sera except for IFN-γ in controls (6.37 vs 11.93; P = .01). Increased IFN-γ and IL-10 were correlated with rejection (r = .93; P = .008). sCD30 correlated with serum creatinine among ARE patients in control and DBMI groups (r = .89; P = .019; and r = 1.00; P < .0001, respectively).ConclusionsHigher levels of sCD30, IFN-γ, and IL-10 posttransplantation in rejecting patients provided evidence for coexistence of cellular and humoral responses in ARE. There appeared to be a down-regulatory effect of infusion on alloresponses.