Vitamin D Receptor Polymorphisms in Liver Transplant Recipients

Abstract

Objectives: Liver transplant is an established treatment for end-stage liver failure. Vitamin D has been shown to exert multiple immunomodulatory effects, which act through its own receptor (vitamin D receptor). In the present study, the association between Iranian patients with liver transplant and the polymorphism of vitamin D receptor FokI T>C (rs10735810) was investigated.

Materials and Methods: The candidate gene locus was genotyped in 51 liver transplant recipients, and the association of each genotype with allograft acute rejection was evaluated.

Results: In this study, we found no evidence to suggest that vitamin D receptor FokI polymorphism determines the incidence of acute rejection after liver transplant. The distribution of alleles was not different according to the underlying liver disease.

Conclusions: Larger epidemiologic studies are needed to elucidate the importance of vitamin D receptor gene polymorphism in transplant recipients.