Cytolytic T lymphocytes from human renal allograft biopsies are tissue specific.
The cytolytic activity of T lymphocytes infiltrating renal allografts from recipients undergoing episodes of acute cellular rejection was studied. These T-cell populations, composed of both CD4+ and CD8+ cells, demonstrated significant cytolytic activity against both donor-derived KCLs and B-LCLs. In five of 21 biopsy-derived lines greater cytolytic activity was measured against donor KCLs compared to donor B-LCLs, suggesting the presence of kidney antigen-specific, MHC-restricted clones. Clones developed by stimulation with donor B-LCLs lysed both donor B-LCLs and KCLs while clones developed on donor KCLs as stimulator cells showed tissue specificity. Three of 26 clones recognized tissue-specific antigens in the context of donor MHC class I antigens lysing donor KCLs but not B-LCLs. These data demonstrate that a subpopulation of T cells recognizing kidney-specific antigens are present in biopsies of renal allograft recipients undergoing acute cellular rejection. This subpopulation of tissue-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes may prove to contribute significantly to the pathology of allograft rejection.
Poindexter
N J
NJ
Department of Surgery, Washington University Medical School, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, USA.
Steward
N S
NS
Shenoy
S
S
Jendrisak
M D
MD
Flye
M W
MW
Howard
T K
TK
Mohanakumar
T
T
D001706:Biopsy; D002999:Clone Cells; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000276:immunology*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D009928:Organ Specificity; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*