Serum sTWEAK and FGF-23 Levels in Hemodialysis and Renal Transplant Patients

• Main Authors: H Eskandari Naji, A Ghorbanihaghjo, H Argani, S Raeisi, J Safa, AH Alirezaei, N Rashtchizadeh
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shiraz University of Medical Sciences 2017-04-01
• Series: International Journal of Organ Transplantation Medicine
• Subjects: Renal dialysis; TL1 cytokine [Supplementary Concept]; sTWEAK; Kidney transplantation; Fibroblast growth factor 23 [Supplementary Concept]
• Online Access: http://www.ijotm.com/ojs/index.php/IJOTM/article/view/338
• ISSN: 2008-6482; 2008-6490

Background: Kidney transplantation is the treatment of choice for patients with end-stage renal disease. Objective: To evaluate the changes in serum soluble TNF-like weak inducer of apoptosis (sTWEAK) and fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF-23) in hemodialysis (HD) patients and renal transplant recipients (RTR). Methods: Serum samples were obtained from 30 patients on chronic HD, 30 RTRs, and 30 normal controls. Biochemical factors, sTWEAK, FGF-23, and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were measured by standard methods. Results: Serum levels of sTWEAK in RTRs were significantly higher than those in the HD patients (p=0.025); RTR and HD patients had significantly lower sTWEAK levels than the controls (p=0.001 and p= 0.038, respectively). Serum levels of FGF-23 in HD patients were significantly (p=0.001) higher than those in the RTR; the level was higher in both studied groups compared to that in the controls (p=0.001 for both groups). The mean serum level of IL-6 in HD was significantly higher than that in RTR patients (p=0.013). IL-6 levels in both groups were significantly higher than those in controls (p=0.001 and p= 0.012, respectively). In HD group a negative correlation was found between FGF-23 and sTWEAK (r= ?0.375, p=0.041); there were also a significant correlation between FGF-23 and IL-6 (r= 0.480, p= 0.007) and between IL-6 and sTWEAK (r= ?0.409, p=0.025). Conclusion: We found that serum sTWEAK is decreased and FGF-23 is increased in HD and RTR groups comparing with the control group. However, further studies are needed to shed light over their direct role on atherosclerosis and cardiovascular outcomes.