T-cell clonal change after allo-kidney transplantation in humans.
Whether T cells circulating peripherally express changes at a clonal level after renal transplantation is uncertain. To clarify this issue, we analyzed T-cell clonality of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) in 12 renal transplant recipients by a novel polymerase chain reaction-single-strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) method that can discriminate T-cell clones with different T-cell receptor (TCR) Vbeta motifs. The PCR-SSCP study showed that after transplantation, only a few distinct T-cell clonotypes accumulated in the absence of clinical episodes, irrespective of the compatibility of HLA antigens. In contrast, various T-cell clones appeared in cases of acute rejection (AR) and infection. These subsided immediately after the AR was resolved; however, they remained long after the resolution of the infection. In a case of AR followed by an infectious episode, distinct T-cell clones appeared concomitantly with each episode. Several of them disappeared or remained thereafter. In one case, significant numbers of accumulating bands were observed by in-vitro stimulation by mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR); several were identical to those found in vivo. However, some of those that did not appear in vitro were apparent in vivo. In conclusion, the appearance of T-cell clonotypes at a peripheral level indicates the existence of immunologically activated T-cell clones, which were significantly affected by immunosuppressive therapy. It was also determined that the T-cell immune system is much more complicated in vivo than in vitro.
Hagihara
M
M
Department of Transplantation Immunology, Tokai University School of Medicine, Tokai University Hospital, Kanagawa, Japan.
Hiraga
S
S
Tsuchida
F
F
Morita
N
N
Kanai
N
N
Balgansuren
G
G
Munkhbat
B
B
Masuko
K
K
Yamamoto
K
K
Kato
S
S
Tsuji
K
K
D000038:Abscess / Q000473:pathology; D002999:Clone Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000276:immunology*; D007959:Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000235:genetics; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000473:pathology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous / Q000276:immunology
D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell