title: T gamma/delta lymphocytes in renal transplant recipients.
abstract: T gamma/delta lymphocytes are able to perform allospecific cytotoxicity and natural killer cytotoxicity in vitro. However, very little is known about their function in vivo. To investigate the possible involvement of T gamma/delta lymphocytes in the immune response to renal allografts, fine-needle aspiration biopsies and peripheral blood of 15 renal transplant recipients were studied during the first 4 weeks after transplantation. In addition peripheral blood of patients before transplantation, half a year and one year after transplantation was studied. No increase in the percentage of T gamma/delta lymphocytes in the fine-needle aspiration biopsies, including those taken during acute rejection episodes, was found. A significant decrease in the percentage of T gamma/delta lymphocytes was observed in peripheral blood after transplantation. We conclude that T gamma/delta lymphocytes seem to play no major role in the immune response to renal allografts.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Immunology Laboratory, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Raasveld
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bloemena
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Surachno
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: ten Berge
mesh_terms: D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis; D017252:CD3 Complex; D018959:CD57 Antigens; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000276:immunology*; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000032:analysis; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / Q000032:analysis*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D017252:CD3 Complex; D018959:CD57 Antigens; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta