Cadaver versus living donor kidneys: impact of donor factors on antigen induction before transplantation

Abstract

Background: It is widely recognized that living-related donor (LRD) renal allografts have a higher overall graft survival than cadaver donor transplants. We tested the hypothesis that part of this is attributable to LRD kidneys being obtained under optimal conditions from healthy donors, whereas cadaveric kidneys may have experienced injury as a result of inflammatory events around the time of brain death.

Methods: We have performed a comparative immunohistochemical analysis of pretransplant donor biopsies from cadaveric (N = 65) and LRD (N = 29) kidneys to determine any differences that may predispose them to subsequent damage. Cryostat sections were stained with antibodies to leukocytes, adhesion molecules, and human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DR antigens, and the expression was assessed semiquantitatively.

Results: High levels of endothelial E-selectin and proximal tubular expression of HLA-DR antigens, intercellular adhesion molecule-1, and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 were detected in biopsies from cadaveric kidneys, whereas expression of these markers was markedly reduced in LRD kidneys. High levels of tubular antigen expression were significantly associated with traumatic death, prolonged ventilation, and episodes of infection in cadaver donors. Furthermore, the expression of pretransplant tubular antigens in cadaver donor kidneys was significantly associated with early acute rejection following transplantation, suggesting that such kidneys are predisposed to subsequent immune-mediated attack following transplantation.

Conclusions: These results may explain, in part, the superior outcome of LRD allografts compared with cadaver renal allografts.