Quantitative detection of changes in cytokine gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells correlates with and precedes acute rejection in renal transplant recipients

IL-10 expression increased significantly following donor surgery. IL-4 and TNF-α patterns clearly differentiated between rejectors and non-rejectors. In the rejectors significant increases occurred more than 48 h before clinical graft dysfunction. Negative predictive values were 76% and 80% for IL-4 and TNF-α, respectively. This study has identified two cytokines (IL-4 and TNF-α) whose gene expression patterns differentiate between rejecting and non-rejecting renal transplant recipients making immunological monitoring possible.