Expression of CD40/CD40L in renal allograft with acute rejection

Objective:To study the characteristic of CD40 and CD40L expression in renal allograft with acute rejection and to investigate the possible pathogenic role of CD40/CD40L in acute renal allograft rejection. Methodology:Twenty four renal allograft recipients (AR group) with acute rejection and twelve without acute rejection (NAR group) were included in this study.Normal kidney tissue sections from cadaveric donors were used as control.The expression of CD40 and CD40L in renal allograft biopsy sections was analyzed with immunochemistry sp assay.The results was interpreted in the light of infiltrating CD3 and CD68 in the interstitium. Results:Different distributions of CD40 and CD40L expression were observed in patients with acute rejection.Striking CD40 staining was observed in the cellular infiltrates of the grafts with acute rejection.In renal allografts with acute rejection,CD40L expression was predominantly expressed in renal parenchyma.The expression of CD40 and CD40L in the interstitial cells was significantly higher in AR group than those in the NAR group,and correlated with the increased infiltration of lymphocytes in the interstitium. Conclusion:CD40/CD40L co stimulatory molecules might play an important role in the pathogenesis of acute renal allograft rejection.