The modulation of the immune system following solid organ transplantation has made considerable progress with new immunosuppressive regimens and has considerably improved rejections rates. The improvement in long-term allograft survival is, however, modest. A complex network of cytokines, chemokines, adhesion, activation and co-stimulatory molecules are the frontline contributors to allograft rejection, which in turn determines the evolution of graft function and its long-term survival. Polymorphisms in these genes influence protein levels and presumably their signaling effects. In this review, we present a relevant panel of candidate genes related to the immune system in the context of solid organ transplantation; we discuss the most convincing reports of genetic associations with outcomes in renal transplantation and highlight the most promising loci among the vast body of literature.
Keywords: Cytokines; Gene polymorphism; Immune response; Immunosuppressive therapy; Transplantation.
Copyright © 2015 The Canadian Society of Clinical Chemists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.