title: Natural killer cell activity in renal transplant recipients receiving cyclosporine.
abstract: Normal subjects (n = 11) had a mean circulating natural killer (NK) cell activity of 188 lytic units per 10(7) peripheral mononuclear blood leukocytes. This activity was significantly enhanced by in vitro incubation with 500 U of alpha-interferon (+207 lytic units). The mean NK activity of renal transplant recipients on azathioprine (n = 17) or on cyclosporine (n = 17) studied at various times after transplantation was significantly decreased, as was the ability of interferon to enhance NK activity. In the cyclosporine group, interferon could not enhance NK titers 1 to 6 weeks after transplantation when the patients were on the highest doses of cyclosporine (mean, 1,002 mg/day) or when they were viremic for cytomegalovirus. After 18 weeks, when the patients received 546 mg/day or when viremia was no longer detected, the ability of interferon to enhance NK activity was more normal. Cyclosporine and cytomegalovirus infection may have a greater effect on the action of interferon on NK activity than on the NK titer per se. This defect may diminish the reserve of NK cells and contribute to post-transplant immunosuppression.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000276:immunology; D003524:Cyclosporins / Q000276:immunology*; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000276:immunology; D004306:Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000276:immunology; D007668:Kidney / Q000276:immunology; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors; D014181:Transplantation Immunology / Q000187:drug effects; D014766:Viremia / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D003524:Cyclosporins; D007370:Interferon Type I; D001379:Azathioprine