Inflammation and endothelial activation are linked to renal function in long-term kidney transplantation

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between inflammation and adhesion molecules in long-term kidney transplantation. We measured serum concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF alpha) and intercellular and vascular cell adhesion molecules (ICAM-1 and VCAM-1) in 35 renal transplant recipients (mean age of transplantation 5 +/- 3 years) and in 35 chronic renal insufficiency (CRI) patients; twenty-six healthy subjects were enrolled as controls. Transplanted showed higher values than controls of TNF alpha (P < 0.0001), ICAM-1 (P < 0.0001), and VCAM-1 (P < 0.0001). CRI group as well exhibited higher concentrations than controls of TNF alpha (P < 0.0001), ICAM-1 (P < 0.0001), and VCAM-1 (P < 0.0001). Transplanted and CRI patients had similar blood pressure and renal function levels, and TNF alpha, ICAM-1, and VCAM-1 were not significantly different in the two groups. In transplanted group ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and TNF alpha correlated negatively and independently with glomerular filtration rate (GFR) -P < 0.00001 for all. TNF alpha as well correlated with ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 (P < 0.001, respectively). In CRI group, TNF alpha correlated with serum creatinine, ICAM-1, and VCAM-1 (P = 0.01 for all). In conclusion, in long-term renal transplantation, the level of kidney function and both inflammation and endothelial activation are closely related. In fact, the multiple regression analysis demonstrated that the level of kidney insufficiency and the levels of the studied molecules were independently associated.