Title: The gene expression of TNF-α and ICAM-1 as novel markers for atherosclerosis in Egyptian hemodialysis patients

Authors: Laila H. El-Sayed, Seham A. Abou-Shousha, Hossam M. Ghoneim, Hanan A. Sabra, Nader M. Mowafy, Essam A. Zaki, Elsayed E. Hafez, Mohammed A. Abdel Rahman

Addresses: Department of Immunology, Medical Research Institute, Alexandria University, Egypt. ' Department of Immunology, Medical Research Institute, Alexandria University, Egypt. ' Department of Immunology, Medical Research Institute, Alexandria University, Egypt. ' Department of Immunology, Medical Research Institute, Alexandria University, Egypt. ' Department of Internal Medicine, Medical Research Institute, Alexandria University, Egypt. ' Biotechnology Research Institute, Mubarak City for Scientific Research and Technological Applications, Egypt. ' Biotechnology Research Institute, Mubarak City for Scientific Research and Technological Applications, Egypt. ' Department of Hematology, Military Medical Academy, Egypt

Abstract: Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory vascular disorder frequently associated with renal disease and considered one of the major causes of death in patients with End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). An early phase of atherosclerosis involves recruitment of inflammatory cells from circulation by transendothelial migration. This process is predominantly mediated by cellular adhesion molecules which are expressed on the vascular endothelium and circulating leukocytes in response to several inflammatory stimuli. The goal of this study is to evaluate the prognostic value of the Tumour Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α) and Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in Hemodialysis (HD) patients by means of the quantitative determination of ICAM-1 and TNF-α mRNA levels using Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) (RT-PCR), where specific primers for each were used. Meanwhile, the levels of both ICAM-1 and TNF-α mRNA gene expressions in the peripheral blood of the studied groups were correlated with the other biochemical parameters of atherosclerosis in HD patients. Statistical analysis of the data revealed a highly significant increase in both ICAM-1 and TNF-a mRNA expressions in HD patients as compared to the healthy controls. Moreover, both TNF-α and ICAM-1 showed a positive correlation with triglycerides and Very Low Density Lipoprotein (VLDL). There was also a strong positive correlation between TNF-α and ICAM-1.

Keywords: atherosclerosis; hemodialysis; kidney failure; tumor necrosis factor-α; TNF-α; soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1; sICAM-1; gene expressions; Egypt; renal disease; prognosis; polymerase chain reaction; PCR.

DOI: 10.1504/IJIS.2009.023563

International Journal of Immunological Studies, 2009 Vol.1 No.1, pp.94 - 105

Published online: 28 Feb 2009 *

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