Oral shedding and viremia of torque teno virus (TTV) in renal transplant recipients

Abstract

Immunosuppressive therapy is essential for the success and longevity of kidney transplantation. The need for administration of immunosuppressive therapy-induced and continued throughout the life of the transplant recipients, the possibility of being affected by several comorbidities, and the increased risk of developing opportunistic infections make these individuals a unique and peculiar group of patients with special health needs long-term. After kidney transplantation, drug-induced immunosuppression is essential to prevent graft rejection. In contrast, increasing the dosage of immunosuppressants may increase the risk of developing opportunistic infections. The study of biomarkers that can assess the immune status of these individuals over time is extremely important. Torque teno virus (TTV) has been shown to be a possible candidate and may assist in determining the parameters used in post-transplant immunosuppressive therapies, avoiding the administration of low doses that lead to rejection, as well as high doses that could favor the development of infections or complications. The aim of this study is to analyze the oral shedding and viremia of TTV in patients in the immediate post-kidney transplantation, establishing the dynamics of excretion and its correlation with immunosuppression. Saliva and plasma samples from kidney transplant patients collected at the following times will be studied: 24 hours pre-transplant, 15 days, and 60 days post-transplant. The samples will be subjected to DNA extraction and quantitative real-time PCR for TTV. Viral loads in saliva and plasma will be compared in relation to the collection times, as well as the clinical and demographic characteristics of the patients included in the study.(AU)