Abstract:

Abstract Objective: To investigate the expression of glycogen synthase kinase -3β (GSK-3β) and NF-κB in renal allografts with chronic active antibody-mediated rejection (ABMR) and explore its relationship with ABMR induced interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy (IF/TA). Methodology: Immunohistochemical assay and computer-assisted genuine colored image analysis system were used to detect the expressions of GSK-3β and NF-κB in one hundred and sixteen cases of renal allografts with ABMR. The relationship between expression levels of GSK-3β, NF-κB, RANTES (regulated on activation, normal T cells expressed and secreted) and MCP-1, interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy in renal allografts were analyzed. 10 specimens of healthy renal tissue were used as controls. Results: Compared to the normal tissues, the expressions of GSK-3β, NF-κB and MCP-1 were significantly higher in the renal tissues with ABMR（P＜0.001）, and the expressions tended to increase along with the pathological grade of IF/TA, the expression of GSK-3β, NF-κB, RANTES and MCP-1 were positively correlated with the pathological grades of IF/TA(r=0.884, 0.914, 0.888 and 0.868 respectively, P＜0.001 for all ) , the expression of  GSK-3β was positively correlated with NF-κB , RANTES and MCP-1 (r=0.812, 0.804 and 0.788 respectively, P＜0.001 for all ), and the serum creatinine level was also positively correlated with the pathological grades of IF/TA(r=0.898，P＜0.001). Conclusion: In renal allograft tissues with ABMR, the up-regulated expressions of GSK-3β and NF-κB may be related to the progressive of the chronic renal allograft dysfunction and allograft fibrosis.

Key words: Key words  , GSK-3β , NF-κB , ABMR , Kidney transplantation , IF/TA