ABSTRACT
Transplantation is currently the treatment of choice for end-stage insufficiency of various organs and severe hematologic disorders. Cytokine gene polymorphisms have been extensively explored in transplantation because they are thought to possibly explain the heterogeneity of courses and outcomes and to help in immunosuppression individualization. Although many polymorphisms have been described in the IL-10 gene, the -1082 single nucle otide polymorphism is the most investigated in transplantation. Furthermore, acute rejection is the endpoint most frequently used in cytokine gene polymorphisms studies in organ trans plantation. It appears that factors such as effect of HLA and minor histocompatibility mis match, type of donor, and type of immunosuppression are important to determine the influ ence of IL-10 gene polymorphisms on transplant outcome. Although there are several discrepancies between the results of studies of IL-10 gene polymorphisms and transplant out come, it seems that recipients IL-10 polymorphisms may indicate the severity of acute graft versus host disease in bone marrow transplantation, frequency of acute rejection in organ trans plantation and even could be associated with long-term renal graft outcome. In conclusion, data collected up to now demonstrate substantial evidence of IL-10 gene polymorphism in volvement in post-transplant outcome. Multi-centric prospective studies using multi-locus approaches might ascertain when and how IL-10 genotype information should be considered in clinical transplant practice.
