Differential monocyte STAT6 activation and CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) T cells in kidney operational tolerance transplanted individuals.
In organ transplantation, the immunosuppression withdrawal leads, in most cases, to rejection. Nonetheless, a special group of patients maintain stable graft function after complete withdrawal of immunosuppression, achieving a state called "operational tolerance." The study of such patients may be important to understand the mechanisms involved in human transplantation tolerance. We compared the profile of CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) T cells and the signaling pathways IL-6/STAT3 (signal transducers and activators of transcription) and IL-4/STAT6 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of four kidney transplant groups: (i) operational tolerance (OT), (ii) chronic allograft nephropathy (CR), (iii) stable graft function under standard immunosuppression (Sta), (iv) stable graft function under low immunosuppression, and (v) healthy individuals. Both CR and Sta displayed lower numbers and percentages of CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) T cells compared with all other groups (p < 0.05). The OT patients displayed a reduced activation of the IL-4/STAT6 pathway in monocytes, compared with all other groups (p < 0.05). The lower numbers of CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) T cells observed in CR individuals may be a feature of chronic allograft nephropathy. The differential OT signaling profile, with reduced phosphorylation of STAT6, in monocytes' region, suggests that some altered function of STAT6 signaling may be important for the operational tolerance state.
Moraes-Vieira
Pedro Manoel M
PM
Laboratory of Immunology, Heart Institute (InCor), University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil.
Silva
Hernandez M
HM
Takenaka
Maisa C S
MC
Monteiro
Sandra Maria
SM
Lemos
Francine
F
Saitovitch
David
D
Kalil
Jorge
J
Coelho
Verônica
V
D000328:Adult; D002469:Cell Separation; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000276:immunology*; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D019948:Receptors, Interleukin-4; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D050800:STAT6 Transcription Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000276:immunology; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D023001:Transplantation Tolerance / Q000276:immunology*
C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D019948:Receptors, Interleukin-4; D050800:STAT6 Transcription Factor