The Predicting Role of Torque Teno Virus Infection after Renal Transplantation

Abstract

Renal transplantation is the ideal therapeutic implement for end-stage renal disease patients. However, late kidney graft defeat remains a main challenge. Torque teno virus (TTV) is a small DNA virus whose replication is strictly related to person immune status besides TTV Antigens could prevent organ rejection by regulating both adaptive and innate immunity through interfering with NF-κB pathway which decrease interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels in renal transplanted patients. This cross-sectional study was conducted eighty serum samples were collected renal transplant recipients, DNA was extracted and the viral DNA was detected and quantified by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for human cytomegalovirus (CMV) and real-time PCR for TTV. In addition, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) were used for the detection of TTV antigen and IL-6 levels were also done. Result of PCR showed that 25% and 56.25% of renal transplantation patients had positive for CMV and TTV viremia. CMV viremia was positive in 20% of patients who have positive result to TTV-DNA, which was statistically nonsignificant. Results of ELISA presented that TTV-Ag was positive in 10% of renal transplantation patients, while IL-6 level was very low in patients who have positive results to present of TTV-Ag which was significantly lower in those patients (P = 0.008). In conclusion, TTV could have not an association with reactivation of CMV in renal transplant patients and the presence of TTV-Ag reduce renal rejection by decreasing of IL-6 levels which might be an indicator of allograft status.