Dynamic changes in Th1, Th17, and FoxP3+ T cells in patients with acute cellular rejection after cardiac transplantation.
Previously, studies suggest that CD4(+) effector T-cell subsets participate in allograft rejection. However, the dynamic changes and relative roles of these CD4(+) effector T-cell subsets, especially Th17 cells, have not been systemically examined in patients with acute rejection after cardiac transplantation. In this study, we have studied and compared these CD4(+) T-cell subsets in peripheral blood and endomyocardial biopsies (EMB) in patients with stable-graft and acute cellular rejection. We observed that the gene expressions including T-bet, IFN-γ, RORγt, IL-17, IL-23, and FoxP3, the functional marker of Th1, Th17, and FoxP3(+) CD4(+) T cells, were elevated in EMB samples from patients with acute graft rejection. Accordingly, the percentages of circulating Th1, Th17, and FoxP3(+) CD4(+) T cells were also significantly increased. The data suggest that Th1, Th17, and FoxP3(+) CD4(+) T cells are associated with acute graft rejection in patients with cardiac transplantation.
Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
Sihua
S
Wang
Jun
J
Li
Aini
A
Xie
Guohua
G
Wang
Ni
N
Xia
Ping
P
Ye
Lu
L
Rui
Jiahong
J
Xia
D015153:Blotting, Western; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000276:immunology*; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D053759:Interleukin-23 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D057132:Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 3 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D020381:Interleukin-17; D053759:Interleukin-23; D057132:Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 3; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D007371:Interferon-gamma