title: Enumeration of Leu2a+, Leu2a+-DR+, and Leu2a+-Leu15+ cells in peripheral blood of renal transplant patients.
abstract: Immunological monitoring of peripheral blood cells of renal transplant patients may be helpful for diagnostic and prognostic purposes. We therefore enumerated the percentage of Leu2a+ cells as well as the occurrence of HLA-DR activation markers within this population. Since Leu2a+Leu15+ lymphocytes display suppressor functions in-vitro, this population was included in the study. Blood samples of 50 renal transplant patients within 3 months of transplantation and 41 pretransplant samples were investigated. As controls, peripheral blood cells from 10 healthy volunteers and 20 renal transplant patients with stable graft function more than 6 months after transplantation were examined. Just prior to transplantation the percentages of Leu2a+ cells, as well as the percentages of Leu15+ and DR+ cells within this population, varied considerably. Shortly after transplantation, clinical rejection episodes and cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections correlated with decreased percentages of Leu2a+ cells (P = 0.024 and 0.016, respectively). In nine patients with a decreased percentage of Leu2a+ cells shortly after transplantation but no rejection, the percentage of Leu2a+ cells normalized within 14 days. No correlation was found between increased percentages of Leu15+ or DR+ cells and rejection episodes, although the percentages of Leu2a+Leu15+ and Leu2a+DR+ cells increased significantly shortly before rejection (P less than 0.005). A decreased percentage of Leu2a+ cells, together with increased percentages of Leu15+ and DR+ cells, was seen in association with CMV infections (P less than 0.005). From this study we conclude that low percentages of Leu2a+ cells correlate with rejection episodes or CMV infections, whereas low percentages together with increased percentages of Leu2a+DR+ and Leu2a+Leu15+ cells are associated with CMV infections, especially in patients treated with high doses of cyclosporine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University Hospital Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Kootte
authors.forename: F C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Henny
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Tanke
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Slats
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: van Es
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Paul
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis*; D003524:Cyclosporins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000276:immunology; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000145:classification* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000276:immunology; D011184:Postoperative Period; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D003524:Cyclosporins; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens