Serum miR-338-5p, Soluble B-Cell–Activating Factor, Allo-Antibodies, and Renal Transplantation

•Serum miR-338-5p in renal transplant recipients was statistically downregulated, whereas serum sBAFF in recipients was significantly upregulated, compared with that in healthy volunteers.•Serum miR-338-5p was significantly negatively correlated with sBAFF and anti–HLA II antibody with MFI value >1000.•sBAFF was significantly negatively correlated with anti-MICA antibody with MFI value >1000.

BackgroundThe objective of the study was to explore the expression features of serum miR-338-5p and soluble B-cell–activating factor (sBAFF) in renal transplant recipients.MethodsFollow-up renal transplant recipients (n = 49) were enrolled in this study (male/female: 38/11). Healthy volunteers were controlled; 2 mL of peripheral blood from each subject was collected. Total RNA was extracted from serum by use of the miRNeasy Serum/Plasma Kit (QIAGEN), and miR-338-5p was amplified by means of quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction. sBAFF was detected by means of enzyme-linked immunoassay. LABScreen Mix (LSM12) (One Lambda) was used to test the level of anti–human leukocyte antigen (HLA) I antibody (Ab), anti–HLA II Ab, and anti–major histocompatibility complex class I chain-related A (MICA) Ab. All data are shown as mean ± SD and were analyzed by use of SPSS software 17.0.ResultsCompared with healthy volunteers, serum miR-338-5p in recipients was statistically downregulated (2.79 ± 2.5 versus 0.09 ± 0.12, P < .001); sBAFF in recipients was significantly upregulated (1321 ± 950 pg/mL versus 534 ± 327 pg/mL, P < .01); serum anti–HLAII Ab, anti–MICA Ab, and anti–HLA+MICA Abs all statistically increased in recipients (P < .05). Spearman correlation analysis showed that miR-338-5p was significantly negatively correlated with sBAFF (r = −0.51, P < .001) and anti–HLA II antibody with mean fluorescence intensity value >1000 (r = −0.322, P < .05). Analysis results also suggested that sBAFF was significantly negatively correlated with anti–MICA Ab, with mean fluorescence intensity value >1000 (r = −0.579, P < .05).ConclusionsmiR-338-5p is closely correlated with the procedure of renal allograft antibody-mediated rejection.