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. 2021 Feb 23;13(2):351.
doi: 10.3390/v13020351.

BK Polyomavirus Micro-RNAs: Time Course and Clinical Relevance in Kidney Transplant Recipients

Baptiste Demey  1   2 , Véronique Descamps  1   2 , Claire Presne  3 , Francois Helle  1   2 , Catherine Francois  1   2 , Gilles Duverlie  1   2 , Sandrine Castelain  1   2 , Etienne Brochot  1   2
Affiliations

BK Polyomavirus Micro-RNAs: Time Course and Clinical Relevance in Kidney Transplant Recipients

Baptiste Demey et al. Viruses. .

Abstract

Background: Kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) are exposed to a high risk of BK polyomavirus (BKPyV) replication, which in turn may lead to graft loss. Although the microRNAs (miRNAs) bkv-miR-B1-3p and bkv-miR-B1-5p are produced during the viral cycle, their putative value as markers of viral replication has yet to be established. In KTRs, the clinical relevance of the changes over time in BKPyV miRNA levels has not been determined.

Methods: In a retrospective study, we analyzed 186 urine samples and 120 plasma samples collected from 67 KTRs during the first year post-transplantation. Using a reproducible, standardized, quantitative RT-PCR assay, we measured the levels of bkv-miR-B1-3p and bkv-miR-B1-5p (relative to the BKPyV DNA load).

Results: Detection of the two miRNAs had low diagnostic value for identifying patients with DNAemia or for predicting DNAuria during follow-up. Seven of the 14 KTRs with a sustained BKPyV infection within the first year post-transplantation showed a progressive reduction in the DNA load and then a rapid disappearance of the miRNAs. DNA and miRNA loads were stable in the other seven KTRs.

Conclusions: After the DNA-based diagnosis of BKPyV infection in KTRs, bkv-miR-B1-3p and bkv-miR-B1-5p levels in the urine might be valuable markers for viral replication monitoring and thus might help physicians to avoid an excessive reduction in the immunosuppressive regimen.

Keywords: BKPyV; kidney transplantation; microRNA; polyomavirus BK.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves for urine levels of bkv-miR-B1-3p (a), bkv-miR-B1-5p (b) and BKPyV DNA (c) in KTRs with (patients) vs. without (controls) BKPyV DNAemia at the time of sampling. AUC: area under the curve.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Changes over time of BKPyV markers (DNA, bkv-miR-B1-3p, bkv-miR-B1-5p) in urine (U) and plasma (P) among 14 patients who developed sustained BKPyV infection during the year after kidney transplantation. (A) Patients with a fall in the DNA load after immunosuppressant dose reduction. (B) Patients with a stable DNA load after immunosuppressant dose reduction.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Changes over time of BKPyV markers (DNA, bkv-miR-B1-3p, bkv-miR-B1-5p) in urine (U) and plasma (P) among 14 patients who developed sustained BKPyV infection during the year after kidney transplantation. (A) Patients with a fall in the DNA load after immunosuppressant dose reduction. (B) Patients with a stable DNA load after immunosuppressant dose reduction.
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