Leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptors (LILR) are proteins that sit on the surface of certain immune cells and can either activate or calm down the immune response. When these proteins aren’t working properly due to genetic differences or changes, it can lead to issues like cancer or autoimmune diseases. However, we don’t know much about how these proteins affect kidney transplants or chronic kidney disease (CKD). We looked at the genetic information from blood samples taken before kidney transplants and found some differences in a gene called LILRB3 among African American patients. These differences were linked to a higher chance of losing the transplanted kidney after surgery. Since immune responses play a big role in kidney health, we think these genetic differences might contribute to why some CKD patients have a higher risk of their kidneys failing or not working well. To learn more, we’re going to study data from the UK Biobank, which has genetic information and medical records from a large group of people. We’ll focus on how genetic differences in LILR genes might affect how CKD progresses, and we’ll pay attention to any differences between different racial groups. Once we find these genetic differences, we’ll double-check our findings with data from other biobanks that also have medical records. This study will take about three years to complete. By the end, we hope to pinpoint which genetic differences in LILR genes are linked to a higher risk of kidney failure in CKD patients. These genetic markers could then help identify patients who are at a higher risk, so doctors can give them extra care or treatment to prevent kidney failure.
