Promoter-region alleles of the TNF-α and IL-10 genes have no effect on pretransplant alloantibody production

The presence of high levels of alloantibodies are known to be a risk factor in renal graft outcome. Expression level polymorphisms in cytokine genes are also thought to have an effect on allograft outcome, but the studies examining this have been inconsistent. This may be due to center-specific differences in immunosuppressive protocols. Therefore, we studied the effects of these polymorphisms on pretransplant class I alloantibody production in nonexogenously immunosuppressed candidates. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) gene polymorphisms were assayed genotypically by PCR-SSP on 177 renal transplant candidates. Candidates with a peak goat antihuman immunoglobulin-enhanced T-cell panel reactive antibody (PRA) of >or=10% were considered to be positive for alloantibody (32% of 177 total). Previous transplants, transfusions, or pregnancies were all associated with alloantibody production, but TNF-alpha and IL-10 phenotypes were not. High levels of alloantibody production (peak PRA >50%) were also not effected by cytokine phenotype. These data suggest that differences in TNF-alpha and IL-10 phenotype do not effect a patient's likelihood of becoming sensitized by transfusions, pregnancies, and prior transplants.