Investigation of the relationship between bk virus and human leukocyte antigens (HLA) in patients with kidney transplantation

The best treatment modality in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) is renal transplantation. The main function of the human leukocyte antigen, located on the short arm of the sixth chromosome, is to present antigens to T lymphocytes and initiate the specific immune response. In addition to the importance of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) molecules in tissue and organ transplants, autoimmune, viral, allergic and neurological diseases have been found to be related. The main target of the recipient immune system in renal transplantation is the HLA molecules on the surface of donor cells. It is also known that HLA plays a role in the development of an immune response to viral infections. BK virus (BKV) infection is one of the major problems after kidney transplantation. Immunosuppressive therapies after transplantation cause opportunistic infections such as BKV. The aim of the study was to investigate whether there is a relationship between HLA and BKV in patients with renal transplantation. The study was planned retrospectively and HLA A, B, and DR tissue typing were studied before transplantation in the study group. DNA was isolated from whole blood samples of EDTA patients. Tissue typing tests were performed by Sequence-Specific Oligonucleotides (SSO) and / or Sequence-Specific Priming (SSP) method based on PCR. After transplantation, patients were tested for BKV. DNA was isolated from urine and / or plasma samples of patients. Isolated samples were quantitatively evulated for BKV by the Real-time PCR method. Results were analyzed statistically with SPSS program. According to the analysis, it was determined that HLA B*13 allele was protective against BKV and HLA DRB1*03 allele could be risk factor against BKV. No significant relationship was found between the other HLA alleles analyzed and BKV. HLA class I molecules are known to be effective against viruses with the help of cytotoxic T cells. In our study, HLA B*13 alleles within the HLA class I molecules were identified as protective factors against BKV. HLA class II is associated with CD4+ T cells that help secrete the cytokines of the immune system and plays a role in stimulating and suppressing the immune system. Here, we demonstrated that HLA DRB1*03 allele could be a risk factor against BKV. This allele may be considered to be associated with a cytokine-secreting cytokine secretion of the immune system. Keywords: Kidney transplantation, Human leukocyte antigens, HLA, BK virus, BKV