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Mast cells and c‐Kit expression in liver allograft rejection
Author(s) -
ElRefaie A M Ahmed,
Burt A D
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
histopathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.626
H-Index - 124
eISSN - 1365-2559
pISSN - 0309-0167
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2559.2005.02239.x
Subject(s) - tryptase , mast cell , pathology , liver transplantation , medicine , pathogenesis , immunohistochemistry , transplantation , biopsy , monoclonal antibody , immunology , antibody
Aims : The pathogenesis of rejection following liver transplantation is not fully understood. It has been postulated that mast cells may play a role in acute and chronic rejection of a number of other solid organ grafts. The aim of this study was to assess the possible role of mast cells and c‐Kit+ cells in acute and chronic liver allograft rejection. Methods and results : Biopsy specimens from (i) ‘time zero’ grafts with a minimal degree of perfusion injury (controls), (ii) transplanted livers with different grades of acute rejection, and (iii) transplanted livers with end‐stage chronic rejection, were stained immunohistochemically using monoclonal anti‐mast cell tryptase and polyclonal anti‐c‐Kit antibodies. Tryptase‐ and c‐Kit‐positive cell densities were assessed by image analysis. Tryptase‐postive mast cell densities ( P < 0.001) were strongly correlated with acute liver allograft rejection grades and chronic liver allograft rejection. Furthermore, a similarly strong relationship was found between c‐Kit+ cell densities and increasing rejection grade ( P < 0.001). Conclusions : Tryptase‐ and c‐Kit‐positive mast cells form part of the inflammatory infiltrate in both acute and chronic liver allograft rejection, and may be important effector cells in these processes.