CD3+ CD57+ lymphocytes are not likely to be involved in antigen-specific rejection processes in long-term allograft recipients.
Cytofluorometric investigation of peripheral blood lymphocytes in 380 long-term (greater than 1 year posttransplantation) allograft recipients showed a significant increase in the proportion of CD3+57+ lymphocytes (greater than 20%) in 20% of patients with renal allografts, 66% of patients with cardiac allografts and 44% of patients with liver allografts. Most of these CD3+57+ cells expressed the CD8 antigen and a variable proportion the HLA-DR antigen. A retrospective analysis showed a poorer prognosis for the clinical outcome in those patients with elevated numbers of CD3+57+ cells in peripheral blood. However, CD57+ lymphocytes could rarely be detected in renal infiltrates by immunohistology. Using the Southern blot technique to analyse the T cell receptor rearrangement of separated CD57+ cells, no clonal or oligoclonal expansion of T cell clones could be detected. Nevertheless, there might be a bias towards the use of particular TCR-V beta gene families in at least some patients, as shown by analysis with monoclonal antibodies. In summary, CD57+ T cells are not likely to be directly involved in the rejection process. The data support the idea of a polyclonal and/or superantigen-driven expansion, but not of an antigen-driven expansion of these cells.
Reipert
B
B
Institute of Medical Immunology, Medical School (Charité), Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany.
Scheuch
C
C
Lukowsky
A
A
Reinke
P
P
Fietze
E
E
Döcke
W D
WD
Staffa
G
G
Czerlinksi
S
S
Hetzer
R
R
Volk
H D
HD
D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000276:immunology*; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000276:immunology*; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D017252:CD3 Complex; D018959:CD57 Antigens; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000276:immunology*; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000276:immunology; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000032:analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous / Q000276:immunology*
D015703:Antigens, CD; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D017252:CD3 Complex; D018959:CD57 Antigens; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; D004247:DNA