title: Regulatory T cells in kidney allograft infiltrates correlate with initial inflammation and graft function.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The relevance of borderline change (BL) and subclinical cellular rejection (SCR) observed in renal transplantation remains to be determined. Several studies have shown in BL and SCR the presence of a Th1 immune response, qualitatively similar to but quantitatively reduced in comparison with infiltrates typical of acute cellular rejection (ACR).
  
  
  METHODS
  To elucidate the role of regulatory T cells (Tregs) in the local control of the allogenic response, we studied their presence by immunohistochemistry in 24 biopsies with graft dysfunction (12 ACR and 12 BL) and in 16 protocol biopsies at 1 year (eight SCR and eight subclinical BL).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The proportion of Tregs in CD4 T infiltrates was higher in BL and SCR when compared with ACR. Moreover, their presence was correlated with the intensity of interstitial inflammation (r=-0.35, P=0.027, n=40) and with graft function at the time of the biopsy (r=-0.37, P=0.018, n=40).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data suggest Treg recruitment at the acute phase of the allogenic response, where they could act to diminish the interstitial inflammation and its associated lesions.
authors.affiliation: Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) U940, Hôpital Saint-Louis, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Cécile
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Taflin
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nochy
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Frouget
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rioux
authors.forename: Jérome
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vérine
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bruneval
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Glotz
mesh_terms: D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D001706:Biopsy; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000276:immunology; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors