Polymorphisms of the CTLA4 gene and kidney transplant rejection in Korean patients

Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA4) is a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily. CTLA4, which binds to B7 molecules on antigen- presenting cells, is expressed on activated T cells, thereby delivering negative signals that down-regulate T-cell proliferation and cytokine production. Consequently, CTLA4 may be a good candidate gene to evaluate in kidney transplantation rejection. In this study, we investigated whether polymorphisms of the CTLA4 gene were associated with susceptibility to kidney transplantation rejection. We genotyped three selected SNPs in the CTLA4 gene using direct sequencing in 325 renal transplant recipients. Of the SNPs examined, one (rs231775) showed a statistical association with late acute rejection (p = 0.026, odds ratio (OR) = 0.48, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.23–0.93 in the dominant model). Also, the frequency of the G allele (rs231775) was higher in late acute rejection patients (p = 0.013, OR = 2.02, 95% CI = 1.15–3.52). One CTLA4 gene polymorphism was associated with susceptibility to late acute rejection in kidney transplantation in Korean patients.