CXC Chemokine Receptor Type 4 Antagonism Ameliorated Allograft Fibrosis in Rat Kidney Transplant Model.

OBJECTIVES

In this study, we evaluated the effects of CXC chemokine receptor type 4 and stromal cell-derived factor 1 signaling in the progression of chronic allograft nephropathy in a rat model.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Experimental rats were divided into 3 groups: Lewis-to-Lewis isograft transplant (group A), Fisher 344 rat-to-Lewis allograft transplant with immunosuppressant cyclosporine (group B), and Fisher 344 rat-to-Lewis allograft transplant treated with cyclosporine and the CXC chemokine receptor type 4 antagonist AMD3100 (1 mg/kg/d) (group C). On day 90 after the operation, renal graft function, proteinuria, and histologic Banff score were measured. The expression levels of transforming growth factor β1 and collagen IV were determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS

Renal function and urinary protein were increased in allografts of groups B and C compared with isografts of group A. The Banff score was significantly decreased in the AMD3100-treated animals (group C), with renal fibrosis being reduced. In addition, overexpressed levels of transforming growth factor β1 and collagen IV in group B allografts were significantly reduced versus that shown with treatment with the CXC chemokine receptor type 4 antagonist in group C.

CONCLUSIONS

Together, these data strongly implicate that CXC chemokine receptor type 4 antagonism alleviated renal interstitial fibrosis in long-term surviving allografts by down-regulating expression of transforming growth factor β1.