ASN's Mission

To create a world without kidney diseases, the ASN Alliance for Kidney Health elevates care by educating and informing, driving breakthroughs and innovation, and advocating for policies that create transformative changes in kidney medicine throughout the world.

learn more

Contact ASN

1401 H St, NW, Ste 900, Washington, DC 20005

email@asn-online.org

202-640-4660

The Latest on X

Kidney Week

ASN / Education & Meetings / Kidney Week /

Please note that you are viewing an archived section from 2023 and some content may be unavailable. To unlock all content for 2023, please visit the archives.

Abstract: SA-OR63

The Association Between V-Set Ig Domain-Containing 4 (VSIG4) Expression and Chronicity in Transplant Kidneys

Session Information

Category: Transplantation

  • 2102 Transplantation: Clinical

Authors

  • Han, Sang Youb, Inje University Ilsan Paik Hospital, Goyang, Korea (the Republic of)
  • Jun, Heungman, Korea University Anam Hospital, Seoul, Korea (the Republic of)
  • Kim, Han Seong, Inje University Ilsan Paik Hospital, Goyang, Korea (the Republic of)
Background

A Banff-based chronicity index is asociated with graft outcomes in patients with a kidney transplant. Recent studies have highlighted the association of V-set Ig domain-containing 4 (VSIG4) with epithelial-mesenchymal transition in various diseases, including chronic kidney diseases. However, its role in kidney transplantation remains unclear. This study aimed to assess the significance of serum and urinary VSIG4 levels in kidney transplant patients who underwent biopsy.

Methods

A total of 44 patients (24 males, 20 females, average age 50.9 ± 12.8 years) were categorized into three groups based on their chronicity index (1-4, 5-8, and >9) as per the 2019 Banff classification. The chronicity index, with a maximum score of 15, represents the sum of scores for interstitial fibrosis, tubular atrophy, chronic vasculopathy, and chronic glomerulopathy. Serum and urinary VSIG4 levels were measured using ELISA, with urinary levels adjusted for urine creatinine levels.

Results

The mean serum creatinine was 1.92 ± 0.88 mg/dL, and eGFR was 41.2 ± 16.1 ml/min/1.73m2. The mean number of HLA mismatches was 3.44 ± 1.40. The mean activity index and chronicity index were 2.07 ± 0.87 and 6.27 ± 2.34, respectively. Significant differences in both serum and urinary VSIG4 levels were observed among the three groups using the Kruskal-Wallis test: serum VSIG4 (ng/mL) - lower group median (IQR): 66.5 (59.1, 73.4); middle group: 69.6 (49.9, 133.1); higher group: 125.1 (116.8, 351.6), p = 0.019; urinary VSIG4 (ng/mgCr) - lower group : 3.66 (2.67, 4.29); middle group: 9.46 (4.99, 23.8); higher group: 17.8 (14.3, 26.9), p = 0.039. Spearman's rank test revealed positive correlations between serum VSIG4 levels and the total chronicity index (r = 0.391, p = 0.009), age (r = 0.377, p = 0.013), and BUN (r = 0.439, p = 0.003). Negative correlations were found with eGFR (-0.554, p < 0.001) and albumin (r = -0.469, p = 0.003). Urinary VSIG4 levels showed a negative correlation with eGFR (r = -0.367, p = 0.009). However, both serum and urinary VSIG4 levels did not differ significantly based on the total activity score.

Conclusion

This study concludes that serum and urinary VSIG4 levels are associated with chronic changes in patients with kidney transplantation. Given the relationship between the chronicity index and allograft loss, these levels may serve as markers for graft outcomes.

Funding

  • Government Support – Non-U.S.