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Evaluation of CD4 + CD25 +/− CD39 + T‐cell populations in peripheral blood of patients following kidney transplantation and during acute allograft rejection
Author(s) -
McRae Jennifer L,
Chia Joanne SJ,
Pommey Sandra A,
Dwyer Karen M
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
nephrology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 61
eISSN - 1440-1797
pISSN - 1320-5358
DOI - 10.1111/nep.12894
Subject(s) - il 2 receptor , medicine , transplantation , allotransplantation , kidney , immunology , immune system , t cell , endocrinology , gastroenterology
Aim Regulatory T cells (Treg) are important in mediating immune tolerance and outcomes of allotransplantation. CD4 + CD25 + CD39 + co‐expression identifies memory Treg; CD4 + CD25 − CD39 + memory T effectors. We sought to determine CD4 + CD25 +/− CD39 + expression from the peripheral blood of patients with end stage renal failure, following transplantation and during episodes of acute cellular rejection. Methods CD4 + T cells were isolated from peripheral blood leucocytes and analysed for CD25 and CD39 expression by flow cytometry. Treg suppressive function was measured by suppression of autologous effector T‐cell proliferation by Treg in co‐culture. Results CD4 + CD25 +/− CD39 + T‐cell subsets were tracked longitudinally in the peripheral blood of 17 patients following renal transplantation. Patients with acute T‐cell‐mediated rejection diagnosed on biopsy had reduced CD4 + CD25 + CD39 + mTreg ( P < 0.05) and CD4 + CD25 − CD39 + mTeff ( P < 0.01) cells compared with non‐rejecting patients. CD4 + CD25 + CD39 + mTreg ( P < 0.05) and CD4 + CD25 − CD39 + mTeff ( P = 0.057) were reduced in long‐term transplant patients (>1 year) compared with non‐immunosuppressed controls. Interestingly, remaining CD4 + CD25 + CD39 + mTreg in the stable transplant patients displayed more potent suppressive capacity compared with non‐immunosuppressed controls (83.2% ± 3.1% vs 45.7% ± 8.0%, nTeff:Treg ratio 8:1, P < 0.01). Conclusion CD4 + CD25 + CD39 + mTreg and CD4 + CD25 − CD39 + mTeff in peripheral blood can be tracked in renal transplant patients. Acute cellular rejection was accompanied by reduced mTreg and mTeff. Determining changes in these T‐cell subsets may help to identify patients with, or at high risk of, renal allograft rejection.