Donor-derived circulating endothelial cells after kidney transplantation.
BACKGROUND
In solid-organ transplantation, the allograft vasculature, in particular the endothelium, is prone to injury inflicted by peritransplantational and posttransplantational factors. Previously, we have shown that circulating endothelial cells (cEC) can be detected in the peripheral blood of kidney allograft recipients and are often associated with acute rejection and active infections with human cytomegalovirus. In the present study we hypothesized that cEC after kidney transplantation are of donor origin, thus reflecting transplantation-related damage to the allograft endothelium.


METHODS
Using hydraulic micromanipulation equipment, we isolated single cEC (n=153) from the peripheral blood of nine kidney allograft recipients at various time points after transplantation. We demonstrated the origin of these cells (donor or recipient) by typing their HLA-DRB alleles by single-cell, genomic, nested polymerase chain reaction.


RESULTS
The majority (71.8%) of cEC were of donor origin and could be detected up to 141 days after onset of acute rejection episodes. Although less frequent (28.2%), recipient-type cEC were detected in the same time course as donor-type cEC.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that posttransplantational injury to the allograft endothelium is reflected by the presence of donor-derived cEC in the blood.
Popa
Eliane R
ER
Department of Medical Biology, University Hospital Groningen, Hanzeplein, Groningen, The Netherlands. E.Popa@med.rug.nl.
Kas-Deelen
Adriana M
AM
Hepkema
Bouke G
BG
Van Son
Willem J
WJ
The
T Hauw
TH
Harmsen
Martin C
MC
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D001773:Blood Cells / Q000473:pathology* / Q000502:physiology; D002460:Cell Line; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000473:pathology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D011184:Postoperative Period; D014019:Tissue Donors