Peripheral microchimerism in long-term cadaveric-kidney allograft recipients.
Microchimerism after allogeneic organ transplantation may be a mechanism for induction of donor-specific graft acceptance. However, the frequency of chimerism and its relevance in long-term tolerance are uncertain. We studied 15 long-surviving (more than 20 years) cadaveric-kidney transplant recipients for the systemic presence of donor alleles with allele-specific genomic amplification of DRB1 and H-Y loci. Microchimerism was observed in 1 case in peripheral blood and in 4 cases in skin. Chimerism and number of HLA alleles shared by donor and recipient were not correlated. This low frequency of microchimerism in long-term kidney allograft recipients raises doubts about a major participation of chimerism in donor-specific tolerance.
Suberbielle
C
C
INSERM U25, Hôpital Necker, Paris, France.
Caillat-Zucman
S
S
Legendre
C
C
Bodemer
C
C
Noël
L H
LH
Kreis
H
H
Bach
J F
JF
D001788:Blood Grouping and Crossmatching; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005784:Gene Amplification; D005838:Genotype; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000276:immunology*; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance / Q000235:genetics; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D018183:Transplantation Chimera / Q000235:genetics*; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous
D006680:HLA Antigens; D004247:DNA