Analysis of CD8+CD28- T-suppressor cells in living donor liver transplant recipients.
BACKGROUND
Human CD8+CD28- T-suppressor (Ts) cells have been considered to indicate a reduced need for immunosuppression in pediatric liver-intestine transplant recipients and recipients of deceased heart-kidney transplants. However, in adult-to-adult living donor liver transplantation (A-A LDLT) little information is available and the clinical significance is still unknown.


METHODS
Flow cytometry was used to detect the population of CD8+CD28- Ts cells present in peripheral blood in A-A LDLT recipients (n=31), patients with end-stage liver disease (n=24) and healthy controls (n=19). Meanwhile, we tested the graft function and trough levels of immunosuppression in recipients. The clinical and follow-up data of 31 transplant recipients were analyzed.


RESULTS
Compared with diseased controls (P=0.007) and healthy individuals (P=0.000), a notable expansion of CD8+CD28- Ts cells was found in recipients of A-A LDLT. This was associated with graft function, levels of immunosuppression and rejection episodes.


CONCLUSIONS
To monitor the CD8+CD28- Ts cells levels is important to evaluate the immune state of recipients. Meanwhile, it is also important to promote expansion of CD8+CD28- Ts cells in recipients of A-A LDLT, not only to sustain good graft function and decrease the dosage of immunosuppressants, but also to reduce the occurrence of rejection.
Lin
Yi-Xin
YX
Center of Liver Transplantation and Department of Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Wang
Lan-Lan
LL
Yan
Lu-Nan
LN
Cai
Pei
P
Li
Bo
B
Wen
Tian-Fu
TF
Zeng
Yong
Y
D000328:Adult; D018106:CD28 Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006084:Graft Rejection; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000150:complications; D017093:Liver Failure / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000145:classification; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000276:immunology* / Q000401:mortality; D019520:Living Donors; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult
D018106:CD28 Antigens