Open AccessNumber and function of circulatory helper innate lymphoid cells are unaffected by immunosuppressive drugs used in solid organ recipients – a single centre cohort study
Author(s) -
GómezMassa Elena,
Talayero Paloma,
UtreroRico Alberto,
LagunaGoya Rocío,
Andrés Amado,
Mancebo Esther,
Leivas Alejandra,
PolancoFernández Natalia,
Justo Iago,
JimenezRomero Carlos,
Pleguezuelo Daniel,
PazArtal Estela
Publication year - 2020
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/tri.13567
Subject(s) - medicine , innate lymphoid cell , circulatory system , immunology , cohort , innate immune system , immune system
Summary In transplanted intestines, depletion of T cells together with long‐term persistence of ILC is observed, suggesting ILC insensitivity to immunosuppressive drugs. To further analyze helper ILC (hILC) apparent resistance to therapy, cytotoxic ILC (NK cells), hILC subsets (ILC1, ILC2, and ILC precursors (ILCP)), and their signature cytokines (IFNγ, IL4 + IL13, and IL22) were analyzed in peripheral blood of kidney and liver transplant recipients. Early after transplantation (posTx), transplanted patients showed significantly lower Lin + and NK cells, whereas total hILC, ILC1, ILC2, and ILCP numbers were similar in patients and controls. Between paired pre‐ and posTx samples, Lin + cell and NK cell counts significantly decreased, whereas all three hILC counts and their cytokine production remained similar. ILC1, ILC2, and ILCP numbers were also similar in patients under thymoglobulin or basiliximab (BAS), patients without induction (only maintenance therapy) and controls. hILC showed lower TMG binding comparing to Lin + cells, reduced expression of CD25 (BAS target), and diminished calcineurin activity with undetectable calcineurin and FKBP12 (tacrolimus target). hILC counts were not related to delayed graft function or biopsy‐proven acute rejection. Thus, hILC remain stable early after transplantation and seem unaffected by immunosuppressors, which may be related to reduced targets expression and low calcineurin activity.