Gene expression analysis in pre-implantation renal biopsy and peripheral blood from the first day after transplantation and the association with delayed graft function.

Abstract

Delayed graft function (DGF) is classically defined as the need for dialysis during the first week after transplantation and occurs in 30 to 50% of kidney transplants from deceased donor. The impact of this outcome in the transplant varies from a significant economic costs due to prolonged hospitalization to an increased risk of acute rejection and poorer long-term graft survival. It is known that ischemia and reperfusion injury mechanisms are the main triggers of DGF. However, the identification of other processes and pathways involved in the DGF pathogenesis is fundamental to the emergence of new intervention strategies and tools for early diagnosis of this event. Thus, in order to identify mechanisms related to DGF and markers that may predict its occurrence, the aim of this study is to investigate the association between the expression of genes, previously selected from a microarray study, and the occurrence of delayed graft function. The gene expression quantification will be performed on samples from pre-implantation renal biopsy and peripheral blood from the first day after transplant. The expression levels will be compared between patients with and without DGF.