Open AccessInvariant natural killer T cells infiltrate intestinal allografts undergoing acute cellular rejection
Author(s) -
Tsuruyama Tatsuaki,
Fujimoto Yasuhiro,
Yonekawa Yukihide,
Miyao Masashi,
Onodera Hisashi,
Uemoto Shinji,
Haga Hironori
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
transplant international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.998
H-Index - 82
eISSN - 1432-2277
pISSN - 0934-0874
DOI - 10.1111/j.1432-2277.2012.01450.x
Subject(s) - medicine , eosinophilic , pathology , immunology , intestinal mucosa , immunohistochemistry , immune system
Summary Immunological responses in human intestinal allografts are poorly understood and accurate diagnosis of acute cellular rejection remains difficult. Here, human intestinal allografts were analyzed by multi‐color quantitative fluorescent immunohistochemical morphometry in order to monitor the clinical course of rejection. Morphometry gave two‐dimensional plots based on size and circularity, and identified phenotypes of individual cells infiltrating the allograft by fluorescent staining. Using this method, invariant TCRVα24 + NKT (iNKT) cells were observed in the intestinal allograft during rejection. Because these were not identified in the normal donor intestine before surgery, this finding was considered to be a signature of acute cellular rejection of the intestinal allograft. Infiltrating iNKT cells released IL‐4 and IL‐5, Th2‐related cytokines that antagonize the Th1 responses that induce acute cellular rejection. Histological observation suggested eosinophilic enteritis in the mucosa with elevation of IL‐4 and IL‐5. In conclusion, iNKT cells were recruited to the intestine; however, because higher levels of IL‐4 and IL‐5 may contribute to eosinophilic enteritis, timely steroid administration is recommended for allograft injury due to enteritis, as well as acute cellular rejection.