Regulatory T cells in kidney allograft infiltrates correlate with initial inflammation and graft function.
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.
Taflin
Cécile
C
Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) U940, Hôpital Saint-Louis, Paris, France.
Nochy
Dominique
D
Hill
Gary
G
Frouget
Thierry
T
Rioux
Nathalie
N
Vérine
Jérome
J
Bruneval
Patrick
P
Glotz
Denis
D
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
D015703:Antigens, CD; C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors