Decreased lymphokine-activated killer cells in kidney transplant recipients. Correlation with a diminished number of CD3-/NKH1+ cells.
The activity of lymphokine-activated killer cells, measured either by a clonal or polyclonal technique, was assessed in 30 kidney transplant recipients (TX), in 13 hemodialyzed patients (HD-CRI), and in 18 normal (N) controls. A highly significant decrease of the LAK activity in TX in comparison with HD-CRI or N (P = 0.0001) was observed. Moreover, the percentage of CD3-/NKH1+ cells was decreased in TX in comparison with N (P = 0.01). LAK activity was strongly correlated (r = 0.72; P = 0.0001) with the percentage of CD3-/NKH1+ cells and not with that of double-positive CD3+/NKH1+ cells. Multivariate analysis showed that the sole independent variable that determined the LAK activity was the percentage of CD3-/NKH1+ cells: the pathological status (TX, HD-CRI, and N) variable was statistically not significant. On the other hand, two T cell-specific functions (IL-2 secretion and specific cytotoxic activity) were, on the whole, preserved in TX. Altogether, these results suggest that TX are LAK deficient predominantly because they have a decreased number of CD3-/NKH1+ cells. The normality of T cell functions suggests that the high rate of malignancies seen in TX is related to this LAK deficiency. Moreover, our study indicates that, in vivo, CD3+ cells do not significantly contribute to the LAK precursors.
Laboratoire d'Immunologie Cellulaire et de Transplantation, ER 277 CNRS, Institut de Recherches Scientifiques sur le Cancer, Villejuif, France.
P
P
Alard
O
O
Lantz
A
A
Ramirez
J Y
JY
Perrot
G
G
Chavanel
D
D
Fries
B
B
Charpentier
A
A
Senik
D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis*; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis*; D017252:CD3 Complex; D019002:CD56 Antigen; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000276:immunology*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000276:immunology*; D015979:Killer Cells, Lymphokine-Activated / Q000276:immunology*; D007959:Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000032:analysis; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology
D015703:Antigens, CD; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D017252:CD3 Complex; D019002:CD56 Antigen; D007376:Interleukin-2; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell