Amyloid deposits: protection against toxic protein species?

PURPOSE: Acute rejection (AR) of a kidney graft in renal transplant recipients is associated with microvascular injury leading to graft dysfunction and failure. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) may serve as markers for vascular injury and AR. We aimed to identify lncRNA biomarkers associated with graft loss after renal transplantation.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

We searched PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science. Odds ratios (ORs), hazard ratios (HRs), and their 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated to assess effect sizes. All graphical designs and statistical analyses were performed using STATA version 17 (StataCorp LP, College Station, TX, USA) and the meta package.

RESULTS

Of 291 initially identified articles, 10 met eligibility criteria and were included in the systematic review; 3 provided sufficient data for meta‑analysis. The pooled area under the curve (AUC) for lncRNA measurement in diagnosing acute kidney rejection was 0.79 in adults and 0.75 in pediatric populations, indicating good diagnostic accuracy. Leave‑one‑out sensitivity analyses confirmed the stability of these findings. However, the pooled HR for the prognostic value of lncRNAs was 0.81 (95% CI: 0.63-1.04), which was not statistically significant.

CONCLUSION

Assessment of lncRNA levels in plasma or urine appears promising as a diagnostic biomarker for acute kidney rejection. The prognostic value of lncRNAs in the course of acute kidney rejection requires further evaluation.