Regulatory CD4+CD25+ T cells in the peripheral blood of lung transplant recipients: correlation with transplant outcome.
BACKGROUND
The subset of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells, recently identified in humans, may play a central role in the regulation of immune tolerance to graft survival.


METHODS
This study assesses the frequency and functional profile of CD4+CD25+CD69- cells in the peripheral blood of lung transplant recipients (>3 years from transplantation), 10 of whom were in a stable clinical condition and 11 of whom demonstrated chronic rejection (bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome). We also studied a group of seven healthy subjects.


RESULTS
The frequency of CD4+ T cells expressing CD25 (CD4+CD25+) and the highest levels (CD25) were lower in patients with bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome compared with healthy subjects and subjects in a stable clinical condition (P < or = 0.01). Purified CD4+CD25+ cells exhibited a regulatory functional profile in vitro: they were hyporesponsive, suppressed the proliferation of CD4+CD25- cells, and produced interleukin-10.


CONCLUSIONS
These results provide in vivo evidence that peripheral CD4+CD25+ T cells may represent an important regulatory subset in lung transplantation.
Meloni
Federica
F
Department of General Surgery and Organ Transplantation, University of Pavia and IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy. federica_meloni@libero.it
Vitulo
Patrizio
P
Bianco
Alessia Marone
AM
Paschetto
Enrica
E
Morosini
Monica
M
Cascina
Alessandro
A
Mazzucchelli
Iolanda
I
Ciardelli
Laura
L
Oggionni
Tiberio
T
Fietta
Anna Maria
AM
Pozzi
Ernesto
E
Viganò
Mario
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001989:Bronchiolitis Obliterans / Q000276:immunology; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D016040:Lung Transplantation / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000032:analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2