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Background/Aims: Catecholamines prevent hypothermic cell death which accounts for severe tissue damage and impaired allograft function after prolonged organ preservation. Here, we identified cellular processes which govern hypothermia-mediated cell death in endothelial cells and how they are influenced by dopamine. Methods: Lactate dehydrogenase assay, intracellular ATP, reactive oxygen species and reduced thio-group measurement, intracellular calcium measurement and mitochondrial calcium staining were performed in the study. Results: Intracellular ATP was almost completely depleted within 12 hrs of hypothermic preservation in untreated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC), while dopamine pre-treatment significantly delayed ATP depletion. 4 hrs after hypothermia a redox imbalance was observed in untreated cells, which increased with the duration of hypothermia. The redox imbalance was primarily caused by depletion of SH reduction equivalents and was significantly inhibited by dopamine. In addition, hypothermia-induced Ca2+ influx and mitochondrial Ca2+ accumulation were both prevented by dopamine. The protective effect of dopamine was abrogated by ionomycin and sodium azide and partly by oligomycin and CCCP. Conclusions: Our data demonstrated that loss of intracellular ATP, generation of a redox imbalance and accumulation of intracellular Ca2+ underlie cold preservation injury. Dopamine improves the redox balance, prevents intracellular Ca2+ accumulation and delays ATP depletion. Copyright © 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tubulointerstitial inflammation with infiltration of mononuclear cells plays an important role in acute allograft rejection and in the progression of renal diseases. We therefore investigated in vivo the expression of the costimulatory molecules B7-1 and B7-2 on proximal tubular epithelial cells (PTEC) under normal and pathologic conditions and analyzed the regulation and functional role of these molecules after cytokine and CD40 activation in vitro. Methods: Immunohistological staining for B7-1 and B7-2 on cryostat sections of core needle biopsies from patients with different renal diseases was examined. Patients were divided into three groups: group A: diffuse interstitial inflammation; group B: minor interstitial inflammation; group C: no interstitial inflammation. In addition, the expression of B7-1 and B7-2 protein and mRNA of cultured PTEC that had been stimulated with cytokine-combinations in absence or presence of a stimulatory anti-CD40 antibody was investigated by means of FACS analysis and RT-PCR. The functional role was analyzed in MKLCs with cytokine and anti-CD40 prestimulated PTEC by measuring IFN-γ and IL-2 expression in absence or presence of CTLA4-Ig by ELISA. Results: Group A patients showed intense tubular staining for B7-1 and B7-2, group B patients showed mild staining, whereas in group C patients B7-1 and B7-2 staining was negative or only weakly positive. In vitro, the presence of B7-1 and B7-2 on PTEC was increased after stimulation with combinations of IL-1α, IL-4, IFN-γ or IL-13 instead of IL-4 and CD40 activation. B7-1 and B7-2 mRNA could be detected in PTEC as well. In MKLCs only cytokine and anti-CD40 prestimulated PTEC were able to stimulate IFN-γ and IL-2 production by purified T cells, which could be blocked dose-dependently by CTLA4-Ig. Conclusion: This study clearly shows that B7-1 and B7-2 can be induced on PTEC in vivo and in vitro. After B7-1 and B7-2 induction, PTEC costimulate CD28 on T lymphocytes resulting in cytokine production. This might be of relevance in allograft rejection and in various kidney diseases.Copyright © 2002 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on short and long term graft survival after cadaveric kidney transplantation. Problem posed by acute and chronic graft rejection after kidney transplantation; Role of major histocompatibility complex in causing graft rejection; Assessment of tissue-specific rejection after kidney transplantation.