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Background: There is strong evidence that an individual's genetic background is an important predisposing factor to longevity. In the present study we analysed the frequency of HLA class I, class II, as well as the TNF-α-308 polymorphism that may be related to an increased life span in Mexican Mestizo healthy elders. Results: HLA typing was performed by polymerase chain reaction sequence specific oligonucleotide (PCR SSO) reverse dot blot. The TNF-α-308 polymorphism was assessed by PCR restriction fragment length polymorphism. A significant increased frequency of HLA-DRB1*11 was found in elderly women whereas this allele was not present in elderly males. The TNF2 allele was also increased in the elder group when compared to young controls. The frequencies of the remaining alleles tested were not statistically different among groups. Conclusion: These data suggest an ethnicity independent tendency of HLA-DRB1*11 in elder females to increase life span and a possible role of the TNF2 allele with the successful remodelling of senescent immune system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alberú J, Richaud-Patin Y, Vázquez-Lavista LG, de Leo C, Guzmán- Rodríguez H, Mancilla E, Correa-Rotter R, Chew-Wong A, Llorente L. In vivo IL-10 and TGF-β production by PBMC from long-term kidney transplant recipients with excellent graft function: a possible feedback mechanism participating in immunological stability. Clin Transplant 2004: 18: 174–178. © Blackwell Munksgaard, 2004 Interleukin-10 (IL-10) and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) are Th2-derived multifunctional cytokines that exhibit potent immunoregulatory and anti-inflammatory properties which might prolong graft survival. The aim of this study was to explore whether spontaneous production of IL-10 and TGF-β by blood mononuclear cells correlates with excellent long-term graft function. A cross-sectional study was carried out in 32 kidney transplant recipients, without albuminuria, treated with azathioprine and prednisone. Spontaneous IL-10 and TGF-β were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in supernatants from 24 h cultured unstimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Both cytokines were also determined in 10 healthy kidney donors. There was no correlation between IL-10 or TGF-β with any variable tested, namely age, SCr, histocompatibility, and post-transplant follow-up. In vivo IL-10 production displayed a statistical trend to be higher in transplant recipients than in controls (362.3 ± 465, range 12.5–1929.3 pg/ml, and 189 ± 170, range 4.17–485.7 pg/ml, respectively; p = 0.08), whereas no difference was observed in TGF-β among the same groups (134.7 ± 79.2, range 68–421 pg/ml, and 121.4 ± 25.8, range 75–151 pg/ml, respectively). Interestingly, a statistically significant inverse correlation was observed between IL-10 and TGF-β in kidney transplant recipients (p = 0.03). The higher IL-10 production observed in long-term kidney transplant recipients supports the notion that this cytokine contributes in decreasing allogenic immune responses and allows prolongation of allograft survival. The balance between TGF-β and IL-10 may be of paramount importance in graft acceptance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]