Background: Several studies have identified FcgammaRIIIb (Fcgr3b) polymorphisms that determine susceptibility to autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis. The objective of the study was to clarify whether FcgammaRIIIb allele polymorphism influence susceptibility to end stage renal disease (ESRD) patients with renal transplantation.
Methods: DNA fragments were amplified by PCR-SSP using genomic DNA from 172 unrelated, healthy blood donors and 171 renal recipients in our Kidney Disease Centre. We performed direct sequencing using 20 PCR products of renal recipients carrying different FcgammaRIIIb forms according to the allele-specific PCR.
Results: FcgammaRIIIb NA1/NA2 genotype frequency showed significant difference between renal recipients and healthy controls (chi(2)=19.3, P<0.005). In addition, the allele frequency also showed significant difference between the two groups. Lower frequency of genotype FcgammaRIIIb NA1/NA1 was observed in renal recipients than in healthy controls (chi(2)=5.06, P=0.024). In comparison with nonrejectors, rejectors displayed no significant defference of FcgammaRIIIb NA1/NA2 genotype frequency, as well as allele frequency.
Conclusion: FcgammaRIIIb NA1/NA2 heterozygote genotype frequency was increased in ESRD patients in Chinese. The present findings showed that FcgammaRIIIb genotype related to the disease susceptibility, although FcgammaRIIIb polymorphisms did not affect the acute rejection.