Vitamin D supplementation was associated with lower levels of soluble T-cell Ig-mucin-3 and HMGB1 in kidney transplant recipients.

INTRODUCTION: Kidney transplantation is the most effective treatment for end stage kidney disease. However, the long-term survival rate of graft kidney has not been significantly improved. It has been found that the expression and interaction of T cell immunoglobulin mucin 3 and high mobility group protein B1 play a crucial role in cellular immune regulation and inflammatory response in recent years. Further investigation is needed to explore the changes in T cell immunoglobulin mucin 3 and high mobility group protein B1 expression in kidney transplant recipients and their correlation with graft function.

RESULTS: Vitamin D supplementation significantly increased serum 25(OH)D concentrations (85.66 ± 19.15 vs. 54.64 ± 24.97 nmol/L) and decreased iPTH levels (10.05 ± 11.53 vs. 31.14 ± 17.13 pmol/L) in the treated group compared with the untreated group at 12 months post-transplant. eGFR was also significantly higher in the treated group (66.75 ± 18.77 vs. 58.34 ± 25.13 mL/min per 1.73 m2) during the follow-up. Both sTim-3 (82.94 ± 16.93 vs. 110.36 ± 18.77 pg/mL) and HMGB1 (59.35 ± 17.78 vs. 79.69 ± 13.42 pg/mL) levels in the treated group showed a prominent and constant decreasing trend and were significantly lower compared to those in the untreated group. Multifactorial regression analysis indicated that vitamin D supplementation after transplantation was an independent predictor of sTim-3 and HMGB1 Levels at 12 months post-transplant.

CONCLUSION: Post-transplant vitamin D supplementation was helpful in decreasing sTim-3 and HMGB1 levels, which might be associated with a better graft function at 12 months post-transplant.