OBJECTIVETo study the changes in Notch1 expression on peripheral lymphocytes after acute graft rejection after renal transplantation.

METHODSTwenty renal transplant recipients experiencing acute graft rejection and 20 without acute rejection were enrolled in this study. Flow cytometry was used to detect the expression of Notch1 on peripheral lymphocytes of the patients before operation, at the occurrence of acute rejection and after anti-rejection therapy. The rates of Notch1-positive lymphocytes measured at different time points were compared between the two groups.

RESULTIn patients with acute graft rejection, Notch1 expression at the time of rejection onset was significantly higher than that before operation (t=4.245, P=0.000) and that of patients with graft rejection (t=3.839, P=0.000), and was obviously decreased after anti-rejection therapy (t=3.102, P=0.004). Patients without graft rejection showed no significant changes in Notch1 expression after the transplantation (P=0.409). Notch1 expression was comparable between the recipients receiving Tac therapy and those with CsA therapy (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONMonitoring Notch1 expression on the peripheral lymphocytes after renal transplantation may help in the diagnosis of acute graft rejection and prediction of the effect of an anti-rejection therapy.